Brick Student, Teammates, Will Represent New Jersey in Environmental Contest

A team of Ocean County students, including one Brick resident, will represent the Garden State for the second year in a row at the 2012 Canon Envirothon this summer.

The teammates – James Geddis of Jackson, Alex Hascha of Brick, Kelsey Lardiere of Manahawkin, Michelle Predi of Barnegat Light, and Ryan Sullivan of Lacey – are all students at the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences (MATES) in Manahawkin.

The same students made up the winning Envirothon team last year, having competed against 32 other teams on knowledge of natural resources-related topics including soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife ecology and a current environmental issue.

To make it to the final round, the MATES team not only tested their knowledge of facts and figures, but achieved a solution to a hypothetical real-world environmental issue. As part of the competition, the students were 'hired' by the Woodbridge Township Redevelopment Agency to act as a planning consultant to develop a Green Business Park.

The students from both teams received many compliments at the conclusion of the Envirothon competition, one of which was from one of the city planners working on the actual project who requested the students come present their plan to the city council.

"Our hope is that these high-achieving students continue to pursue this course of study and consider careers in agriculture and natural resources-related fields," said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, who announced this year's team in a prepared statement on Monday.

The MATES team was the first team ever to receive a perfect score on one of the Envirothon tests; they scored 100 for aquatics.  MATES also had a second team at the competition, which came in second place overall.

"We are so proud of our students," said MATES Science Instructor and Team Advisor David Werner. "Their dedication and hard work has paid off for the third year in a row. Our nine graduating members will be severely missed next year."