WASHINGTON, DC – Seven members of the
2006-2007 Wiser Miser team from Huntingdon
Primary School were honored to meet
President and Mrs. George W. Bush during a
White House ceremony in April.
The team was the winner of the Region 4
Environmental Protection Agency conservation
contest and were honored with the
Presidential Environmental Youth Award.
Team members include Savannah Britt, Macon
Bullock Kirsten Smith, Kaitlyn Smith, Kalie
Thomas, Aaron Evans, and Libby Maxwell. HPS
teacher Connie Bond was their sponsor. Four
others were unable to attend. Those students
included Jordan Allen, Emily Sanford, Marian
Anador, and Sara Beth Hayes.
Ms. Bond said the weather was perfect for
the trip. The presidential ceremony took
place April 17 in the Rose Garden of the
White House and each of the students got to
meet the President and Mrs. Bush. The group
stayed at the Grand Hyatt, met with
Congressman John Tanner, whose wife, Betty
Ann is from Huntingdon, toured the Capitol
building, visited with Senator Bob Corker,
and visited with Senator Lamar Alexander’s
staff. Alexander was out of town. They took
a bus tour of the monuments, and attended a
luncheon at the Ronald Reagan building with
the EPA staff.
While the ceremonies honored last year’s
team of third graders, Ms. Bond said the
2007-2008 team has also earned a trip to
Washington.
President Bush offered these remarks during
the ceremony: “Laura and I are thrilled
you're here, and we are thrilled to honor
young Americans who are helping their
communities by safeguarding the environment…
“I want to welcome your parents and your
sponsors, and I know they're incredibly
proud of you. I appreciate the dedication
that you've shown to improve neighborhoods.
I really thank the fact that you're a person
who's willing to be a responsible citizen
and take action.
“I'm pleased to have all the regional
administrators here. It's good to see
friends from around the country. Thanks for
coming. Thanks for serving the country.
“I appreciate the fact that you know that
we live in a country of unbelievable
splendor and beauty, and no matter which
state we call home, we can always find the
work of the Almighty in our state. And
today, we honor 36 young men and women who
have devoted their time, energy, and
creativity to being good stewards of that
creation. And we appreciate the work you're
doing to preserve our beauty for generations
to come.
“The students here today come from all
across the country. And your accomplishments
are as diverse as your home states. Steve
will read out the accomplishments, but I'll
just touch on a few.
“First, for people from New York, who
collected used books that would have ended
up in landfills and donated them to schools
and nursing homes and homeless shelters.
“People here from Massachusetts, who
worked with local fishermen to switch from
using lead weights to using substances that
didn't have the potential to poison local
birds.
“Virginia, the good folks from Virginia
used recycled electronic equipment so it
wouldn't end up polluting the environment.
Makes a lot of sense; it's a rational plan.
“Good people from Tennessee, who led
hundreds of members of your community to
switch to more energy-efficient light bulbs
-- just like Laura insisted we did here at
the White House.
“How about the good folks from Washington
state, who worked with the school district
and helped save more than half a million
dollars by encouraging teachers to reduce
their energy use in the classroom.
“These are practical ways to help protect
our environment. And one way to thank you is
to have the Administrator present awards to
you. You set a great example for people
around the country and you set a great
example for the government -- we're focused
on conserving and protecting our
environment…”
Sponsors for the trip included: Carroll
County Electric Department, TVA Energy
Right, O’Bryant Insurance, Tri-State Meter
and Regulators, Carroll Memorial Garden, and
Carroll Bank and Trust.
A video of the event is on the Web site
www.whitehouse.gov. Just click on the link
to the President’s youth environmental youth
award. |
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