President's Environmental Youth Awards students
Today's Youth Protecting Tomorrow's Environment
The President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) promote awareness of our
nation's natural resources and encourage positive community involvement. Since
1971, the President of the United States has joined with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency to recognize young Americans for protecting our nation's air,
water, land, and ecology. Each year the PEYA program honors a wide variety of
environmental projects developed by young individuals, school classes
(kindergarten through high school), summer camps, public interest groups, and
youth organizations to promote environmental awareness.
Your project - or one you are sponsoring - could be an award winner. Encourage
one or more students you know to apply for a PEYA and see what a difference they
can make for the environment with an award-winning project. Applicants from
all 50 states and U.S. territories are eligible to compete for an award.
How the Program Works
The PEYA competition has two parts — a regional certificate and a regional award.
The regional certificate program is conducted year-round. Therefore, applications
for this program can be submitted at any time. All qualified applicants will receive
a certificate signed by the President honoring them for their efforts to protect human
health and the environment.
The regional award program is conducted once a year. Following the December 31
deadline, the regional awards panel for each of EPA's 10 regional offices reviews
applications to select the winner. The 10 regional award winners receive a
presidential plaque at an EPA-sponsored award ceremony in Washington, D.C.
How to Apply
A blank application is provided in this brochure. An electronic version of this
document can be viewed or downloaded in portable document format (pdf) at
EPA's PEYA Web site at www.epa.gov/peya. Past projects have included building
nature trails, reversing the decline of endangered species, starting recycling
programs, restoring native habitats, creating schoolyard habitats, and many other
creative, sustainable efforts. To learn more about past award-winning projects,
please visit the PEYA Web site.
Revised October 2008
At a PEYA awards ceremony,
the EPA Administrator said that
"These young people are leading
the way in the protection of
public health and the
environment. Through these
projects and their commitment,
these students are setting an
example for all of us in making
our communities cleaner and
healthier."
Youth who submit an
application will receive a
signed certificate from the
President of the United
States. One outstanding
project in each of the 10
EPA regions will be selected
to receive a presidential
plaque and to attend an
EPA-sponsored award
ceremony.
Complete instructions on
how to apply for a PEYA are
provided on page 2.
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The Application
Step 1: Review the Eligibility Criteria
• Project is completed while the student(s) are in
kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Student(s) are citizens of the United States or its
territories or have been lawfully admitted for
permanent residency.
• Project is sponsored by at least one adult.
Step 2: Complete an Application
• Sponsor must sign and date page A-l of the
application.
• Project must be summarized on the pages provided
in the PEYA application form) no more than 300
words). A more detailed description of the project,
addressing the evaluation criteria, should be
included separately on 3 to 5 pages of 8%- by 11-
inch paper.
• Typed, double-spaced applications are
recommended. The applicant should type or write
on only one side of each page.
• Project must be described based on the criteria (see
column to the right). These criteria will be used by a
regional awards panel to evaluate the application.
Applicants are encouraged to submit photographs,
newspaper articles, and other supporting materials if
they provide a more comprehensive view of the project.
Step 3: Mail the Application
• Each application must be mailed to the regional
PEYA coordinator. Applications cannot be
submitted electronically.
• A current mailing address for each regional PEYA
coordinator is provided in the application (see
page 3).
Application Deadline
For the regional certificate program, applications may be
submitted at any time during the year. For the regional
award program, the deadline for submitting applications
is December 31 of each year.
How PEYA Projects are Judged
Each application under consideration for a regional award
is evaluated by a regional awards panel. The panel
members are usually EPA staff who review and evaluate
each application based on the criteria. A maximum of 100
points can be awarded to a given application.
Evaluation Criteria
Extent to which the project was designed, coordinated, and
implemented due to the young person's or persons'
initiative. Explain how the project was created and
completed through the initiative of the student
participant or participants. The impetus and driving
force for the project must be the student or students,
not the sponsor.
25 points
Environmental need for the project and appropriateness.
20 points
Positive environmental impact on the local community and
society, and the long-term environmental benefits derived
from the project. Describe how the project positively
affected the community and any long-term
environmental benefits or outcomes of the project.
15 points
Were the goals accomplished ? List the goals of the project
and how they were accomplished.
15 points
Positive ways in which other groups or individuals were
involved to provide funds, resources, or publicity.
Describe the positive ways that the project involved
others in the community. Identify community
resources, expertise, leadership, or publicity used.
10 points
Project innovation. Describe how the participant(s) used
innovative approaches to achieve positive results.
10 points
Soundness of approach, rationale, and scientific design
(if applicable).
5 points
A note about sponsors. Each young person or group of young people applying for the PEYA program must be
represented by a sponsor. The sponsor must be an adult and may be a parent, teacher, youth group adviser,
summer camp counselor, community leader, or other interested individual. The adult sponsor plays an important
role in helping a young person or group of young people carry out a project and apply for a PEYA. Typically, a
sponsor offers suggestions and advice throughout the project to: develop a sound project approach; implement
the project; work with other groups and individuals in the community; complete the application form(s); and
prepare accompanying materials. The sponsor must also sign and date the application.
Questions about the role of a sponsor should be directed to your regional PEYA coordinator.
2 Revised October 2008
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EPA Regional PEYA Coordinators
Region 1
CT,MA,ME,NH,RI,VT
Kristen Conroy
U.S. EPA
One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (RAA)
Boston, MA 02114-2023
(617) 918-1069
E-mail: conroy.kristen@epa.gov
Region 2
NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Cecilia Echols
U.S. EPA
290 Broadway, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10007-1866
(212) 637-3678
E-mail: echoh. cecilia @epa.gov
Region 3
DE, MD, PA, VA, WV, DC
Ellen Lucchetti
U.S. EPA
1650 Arch (3PAOO)
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
(215) 814-3287
E-mails: lucchetti. t
Region 4
AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Kathy Armstrong
U.S. EPA
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
6IForsyth Street, S.W
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
(404) 562-8225
E-mail: armstrong.kathy@epa.gov
Region 5
IL,IN,MI,MN,OH,WI
Megan Gavin
U.S. EPA
77 West Jackson Boulevard (AT-18J)
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
(312) 353-5282
E-mail: gavin.megan@epa.gov
Region 6
AK, LA, NM, OK, TX
Patty Senna
U.S. EPA
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 (6XA-CI)
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733
(214) 665-7178
(800) 887-6063
E-mail: senna.patty@epa.gov
Guam
Trust Territories
American Samoa
Northern Mariana
Islands
Region 7
IA, KS, MO, NE
Denise Morrison
U.S. EPA
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101-2907
(913) 551-7402
E-mail: morrison.denise@epa.gov
Region 8
CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
Wendy Dew
U.S. EPA
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
(303) 312-6605
E-mail: dew.wendy@epa.gov
Region 9
AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa,
Guam, Mariana Islands
Sharon Jang
U.S. EPA
75 Hawthorne Street (OPA-2)
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 947-4252
E-mail: jang.sharon@epa.gov
Region 10
AK,ID,OR,WA
Sally Hanft
U.S. EPA
1200 Sixth Avenue (ETPA-086)
Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-1207
(800) 424-4372 (Region 10 only)
E-mail: hanft.sally@epa.gov
A note about the PEYA coordinators. EPA has 10 regional offices, each
responsible for several states and some of which are responsible for U.S.
territories. In each regional office there is a coordinator who manages the
PEYA program for that region. The coordinator answers any questions
about the program, oversees the review of submitted applications, and works
with the sponsors on follow-up activities.
Revised October 2008
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(clear Application Form
Application
This is a voluntary program. Applications should
be filled out only by those who wish to participate.
All eligible applicants will receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States honoring them for their efforts.
To be considered for the regional award program, applications must be postmarked by the December 31 deadline and
mailed to the appropriate regional PEYA coordinator.
Individual/Group/School Name _ Eligibility Guidelines
. . •/ Project is completed while students are in
kindergarten through 12th grade
»T , ,- ..,-. •/ Participants are citizens of the United States,
Number of regional certificates requested , ,, ., TT/
its territories, or lawfully admitted to the U.S.
for permanent residency
/ The project is sponsored by at least one adult
Participants
List the names, addresses, and grade levels of the youth participants. Please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary.
City, State, Zip
Grade Grade.
City, State, Zip
Grade Grade.
City, State, Zip
Grade Grade.
Sponsors
List the name(s) of the adult sponsor(s). Application must be signed by the adult sponsor or sponsors.
City, State, Zip.
Home Telephone _ Home Telephone.
Business Telephone . Business Telephone.
E-mail.
Signature.
President s Environmental Youth Awards Application Revised October 2008 A-1
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Did project receive press coverage? EH Yes
If "yes", attach press clippings.
I No
Please indicate what you are applying for:
] Regional Certificate Only
Regional Awards Program
Applicants for the regional awards program are
advised to refer to the evaluation criteria on page 2
when describing their project. EPA regional award
panels cannot make site visits, so applicants are
encouraged to creatively present a comprehensive
view of the project.
Description of the Project
Please provide a short summary or abstract (no more than 300 words) of the project and identify the results achieved.
The purpose and goals of the project should be included in the summary. A more detailed description of the project,
addressing the evaluation criteria, should be included separately on 3 to 5 pages of 8%- by 11-inch paper.
Applicants for the Regional Awards Program
You may attach up to five additional pages to provide details about the project.
A-2
Revised October 2008 Presidents Environmental Youth Awards Application
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