Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High Students to Appear in National Blog

Two Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School students will soon appear in a national blog, where they will educate readers about water conservation.

As part of its Water Spotlight School program, the Walpole, Mass.-based Green Education Foundation solicited blog entries from students across the country.

Juniors Marissa Spruell and Kevin Stennett partnered on the project, submitting a blog entry full of suggestions on how to conserve water, including using only one drinking cup per day to reduce the use of dishwashers; sweeping yard debris from the driveway instead of washing it away with a hose; and fixing leaky faucets.

“The staff at Green Education Foundation was impressed by the students’ proactive approach. Their water-conservation strategies are great,” said GEF Programs Director Molly Hislop.

The Polk State Chain of Lakes entry will be included in the GEF’s blog that addresses a variety of environmental topics. Recent posts discuss energy-efficient light bulbs, recycling printer and toner cartridges; and using recyclable coffee mugs rather than disposable ones.

Spruell is a resident of Waverly. Stennett is a resident of Haines City.

Twenty-two Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate students participated in the GEF’s Water Spotlight School program, during which they studied water conservation and audited the school building for water efficiency.

Polk State Chain of Lakes Building on the Winter Haven campus opened in 2011. It was designed and built to meet the nationally recognized standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED, and uses a self-sustaining water system. The College is currently preparing its application for LEED certification for the building.

The Green Education Foundation is an international nonprofit organization. It offers free programs that provide curricula and hands-on activities for K-12 students and teachers, encouraging them to think holistically about global sustainability concerns and solutions.

Read more in The Ledger.