Huntsville Green Team honors new local environmental heroes

The City of Huntsville’s Green Team recognized several local students and educators who have championed environmental causes in the city.

The city’s Green Ambassador Awards Ceremony recently highlighted exceptional achievements by these students and educators across elementary, middle and high school programs.

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This year’s Green Team Green Ambassador Awards

More than 35 schools participated in this year’s Green Ambassador Program, engaging thousands of students in hands-on environmental projects, conservation initiatives and sustainability-focused learning experiences throughout the school year.

The Green Ambassador Program, coordinated by the city’s Green Team, encourages students and educators to take active roles in protecting natural resources and improving the local environment through education, service projects and community partnerships.

Here are this year’s honorees included:

The Green Guardian Awards honored educators who demonstrated extraordinary leadership in environmental education and student engagement. Organizers recognized teachers who introduced innovative sustainability projects, including recycled art initiatives, invasive species removal projects, environmental science activities and school conservation efforts.

• Kevin McDonald (Lee High School)
• Jaida Allen (Academy for Science and Foreign language)
• Mattie Yound (Monte Sano Elementary School)

Student leaders were also recognized through the Green Leader Awards, which celebrate initiative, creativity and environmental advocacy among participating students.

Additional honors included Arbor Day Poster Contest recognition, with two Huntsville students placing at the statewide level, as well as Good Citizen Awards recognizing students who created meaningful environmental experiences and service opportunities for others.

• Kennedi Norwood
• Gatlin Gilliam

Schools across Huntsville were recognized as Green Ambassador Schools for their collective environmental action and participation in sustainability education initiatives throughout the academic year.

Elementary, middle and high school finalists were also honored for exemplary campus-wide environmental programs, outdoor learning initiatives, conservation projects and STEM-based environmental education activities.

Here are the winners:

1st Place Awards

• Highlands Elementary
• Montessori School of Huntsville
• New Century Technology High School
• Lee High School

2nd place awards

• Academy for Science and Foreign language
• Goldsmith Schiffman Elementary School
• Morris Middle School
• Jemison High School

3rd place

• Ridgecrest Elementary School
• Chapman Middle School
• St. John Paul II Catholic High School

“We are incredibly proud of the work accomplished this year. Programs like this only succeed when a community comes together behind a shared mission, and tonight is a celebration of that collective effort.”

_{Brian Walker, Huntsville Director of Landscape Management}

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