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Swain County High students win regional science and environmental contests; school unveils new eco club
Summary
Students from Swain County High School were recognized at the April 1 Swain County Board of Education meeting for regional wins in science and environmental competitions and for selection to statewide workshops; the school also described new Earth Week activities and an eco club fundraiser for firefighters.
Swain County High School students and teachers were recognized April 1 by the Swain County Board of Education for a run of regional awards and summer workshop selections.
The school’s science staff said one student, Lorelei Wagner, won first place in the earth and environmental sciences division at the regional science fair and was invited to the state fair. Teacher Max Lanning said Wagner’s project examined phytoremediation—using plants to remediate oil-contaminated soil—and noted Wagner will attend Western Carolina University in the fall.
Terry Bennett, a science teacher at Swain County High School, and a staff member identified as Mrs. Auburn described additional environmental achievements: Lily Craig was named the lone Swain applicant accepted for the 2025 Summer Resource Conservation Workshop at North Carolina State University; the school won a summer scholarship for the Perry Astronomy Camp in Rosman; and the Envirothon team placed first out of 19 teams at regionals and qualified for the state competition in May. Board members were told, however, that the Envirothon team likely will not attend state because the state competition conflicts with prom.
School staff described a slate of Earth Week activities on campus, including a microplastics sampling presentation with MountainTrue, a green-energy demonstration, and a hands-on lab day supported by GEAR UP and staff from the Graves Fossil Museum and East Tennessee State University. Bennett and Auburn said the school has formed an eco club; its first project is collecting donations of food and money to support local and out-of-state firefighters ahead of the school’s final performances of The Wizard of Oz.
Board members and teachers invited the recognized students to remain for the rest of the meeting and agreed to take a group photograph.
The recognitions were presented at the start of the meeting during the public-school recognitions portion and did not require board action.
