In efforts to raise awareness and encourage students to take steps in preserving the environment, the three AP Environmental Science classes of Angela Jensvold and Greg Valor each constructed a project pertaining to an issue they felt passionate about and wished to address. Their efforts culminated in rallies during the weeks of April 29 and May 6.
Valor’s first period APES class presented its project, Put a Cell on It, on May 10. The group’s goal was to encourage the school to place solar panels on the various lamps around campus, enabling the lights to stay on at all times. The rally included a presentation of the topic as well as an activity to encourage student participation.
“We noticed that the outside lamps in the parking lot and school lights cost us a lot of money and also turn off after a certain time in the evening. We thought that if we put solar cells on the lamps, it would enable the lights to stay on throughout the night, promoting a safer environment and also cutting the cost by half,” stated President of the project senior Jason Chen.
The Bright Light rally, held by Valor’s fourth period APES class on May 9, promoted the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs. The event opened with an activity involving a piñata shaped like an incandescent light bulb, followed by various musical performances.
“[Our class] chose to do this project because it was something that could be implemented relatively quickly, since it is not as expensive as solar energy. Changing the lights [at school] would save a lot of money and also help the environment,” shared bRight Light President senior Nyla Simjee.
Sophomore Sabrina Liang is the president of Jensvold’s third period APES class, whose goal was to promote water conservation. Audience members were treated to a performance of Jack Johnson’s “the 3 R’s” during the rally on April 30 and encouraged to participate in a water ping pong blowing contest.
“As a first step [in reaching our goal], we are advocating the usage of more efficient sprinkler nozzles for both public and municipal areas,” Liang states. “Our current project site is at Diamond Bar’s Silvertip Park where we will be changing out almost 90 sprinkler nozzles, which will save up to 20% of the amount of water that the old ones consumed. Furthermore, by reaching out to almost 200 elementary students, we also strive to educate the youth and be role models in promoting the saving of man’s most precious resource: H20.”