Winners Announced in Environmentality Challenge

For an unprecedented second year in a row, a class at El Verano Elementary School in Sonoma County, California, has been named the grand prize winner of "Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality Challenge." Teacher David Neubacher's fifth-grade class will visit Disneyland on Friday, May 16, to accept their award and enjoy a day at "The Happiest Place on Earth."

"Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality Challenge" is directed at elementary schools to promote environmental responsibility, and is presented by The Walt Disney Company in cooperation with the State of California Environmental Education Interagency Network (CEEIN).

On their day at Disneyland, the students will be honored with an awards ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle where Kym Murphy, corporate vice-president of environmental policy for The Walt Disney Company, will present the "Jiminy," an environmental excellence award, followed by a special cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A., to salute their outstanding efforts. They will also participate in an exclusive backstage environmental tour of Disneyland.

In addition to maintaining their award-winning projects from last year, El Verano's outstanding performance introduced at least eight additional initiatives in recycling, conservation and community service. Some of their new initiatives include adopting a cheetah (Cheetah Conservation Fund), a manatee (Florida Save the Manatee Club), and a humpback whale (Earthtrust/Save the Whales International). The fifth-graders planted trees and wildflowers; located and counted the endangered red-legged frog; and raised steelhead in the classroom to release into a local stream. In all, their efforts represented well over 650 volunteered hours.

Over one thousand schools throughout California registered to participate in The "Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality Challenge" program, which challenges students in the California school system to think and act responsibly toward the environment. It emphasizes the philosophy of the Environmentality "spokescricket," Jiminy, that "Every little bit makes a BIG difference and it is COOL TO CARE!"

Runners-up in the program include the following California schools: Kathryn Hughes Elementary in Santa Clara, Carl H. Hankey Elementary in Mission Viejo, Los Medanos Elementary in Pittsburg, and Sea Crest School in Half Moon Bay.

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