John Jay High School Students Compete in 'Environthon'

KATONAH, NY - John Jay High School was represented at the Hudson Valley Regional Envirothon at Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill by two teams.

They were each composed of five juniors and seniors in AP Environmental Science, coached by teachers Linda Rachele Burke and Matt Funnell.

Team 1 included Nicholas Filannino, Matthew Gomes, Danielle Kulick, Sarahann Rozsa and Kaitlin Simonides; Team 2 included Sofia David, Ryan Dwyer, Cooper Klares, Rosie Sacco and Corneil Smith, organizers said.

The teams competed in five different environmental categories: soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and a current environmental issue—this year, it was invasive species. The students also prepared a presentation to make offering a solution to an environmental problem – this year, it was the invasion of hydrilla in a New York State lake.

John Jay's Team 1 came in fourth place overall in the competition and took second place in Westchester County, only six points behind Ossining. Ryan Dwyer brought Team 2 to a first-place finish in wildlife and Nick Filannino led Team 1 to a third-place finish in forestry, organizers said.

The teams were assisted in preparation for the wildlife event by Chief of Police Frank Secret.

Photo caption: John Jay High School AP Environmental Science students who competed in the Hudson Valley Regional Envirothon at Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill on April 14. Photo courtesy of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District.