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President s Environmental Youth Award
Todays Youth Protecting Tomorrows Environment
vvEPA
Section 1: Program History
The President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental
projects by K-12 youth. PEYA promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and
encourage positive community involvement. Each year the PEYA program honors a wide variety
of projects developed by young individuals, school classes (kindergarten through high school),
summer camps, public interest groups, and youth organizations to promote environmental
awareness.
Past projects have included building nature trails, starting recycling programs, restoring native
habitats, installing renewable energy projects, and participating in many other creative,
sustainable efforts. To read about past award-winning projects, visit:
http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-vouth-award-peva-winners
Section 2: How the Program Works
PEYA has two parts — a regional award for Grades K-5 and a regional award for Grades 6-12.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ten regional offices across the country.
Each regional office will be responsible for selecting up to two winners per region, based on the
evaluation criteria in Section 6, one for Grades K-5 and one for Grades 6-12. Applicants are
welcome to include youth across multiple grade levels; however, the application will be
categorized based on the applicant with the highest grade level. For example, if one applicant
group consists of two 4th graders, one 3rd grader and one 6th grader, the application will be
evaluated in the Grade 6-12 category.
Each award-winning project will receive a Presidential plaque. All qualified applicants will
receive recognition from EPA leadership honoring them for their efforts to protect human health
and the environment.
Section 3: Eligibility
•	Project is completed while the applicant(s) is in kindergarten through 12th grade.
•	Applicant(s) is a citizen of the United States or its territories or has been lawfully
admitted for permanent residency.
•	Project is sponsored by at least one adult over the age of 21.
•	Projects started on or after January 1, 2018 are eligible for consideration. As long as there
was activity on the project during 2018, a project initiated prior to that date is eligible for
consideration.
•	Projects must include an environmental stewardship component.
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Section 4: Sponsors
Each applicant or group of applicants applying for PEYA must be represented by a sponsor. The
sponsor must be an adult at least 21 years of age 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 PEYA.
Typically, a sponsor offers suggestions and advice throughout the project to: develop a well
thought-out project; implement the project; work with other groups and individuals in the
community; complete the application form (for K-5 applicants); and assist in preparing
accompanying materials. The sponsor must also sign and date the application. In signing, the
sponsor confirms that he or she has parent or guardian consent for each applicant to participate in
the PEYA program. Questions about the role of a sponsor should be directed to PEYA@epa.gov.
Section 5: How to Apply
A blank application is provided on page A-l. A PDF version of this document can be viewed or
downloaded at http://www.epa.gov/ediication/presiderits-eriviromTierital-voiith-award-peva-
applications-and-forms.
Application Requirements
•	A project summary of up to 300 words must be provided on the application form. Please
note that applicants that are applying in the 6-12 grade level category must complete the
project summary section themselves. Applicants in the K-5 grade level may be advised
by the sponsor and sponsors may assist in the writing of the project summary.
•	A more detailed description of the project, no more than five pages, and addressing each
of the evaluation criterion should be attached to the application.
•	Applicants may submit up to five additional pages of photographs, newspaper articles,
and other supporting materials to provide a more comprehensive view of the project.
Accompanying videos must be web-based with functioning links (e.g., no CDs).
•	Sponsors must sign and date page A-2 of the application.
•	All application materials must be and received by February 1, 2019. See instructions
below for submitting an application.
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Submission instructions
•	Applications can be submitted electronically (email) or by hard copy (U.S. mail or
commercial delivery service).
•	All sponsors will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of the application package.
•	Email completed application materials to PEYA@epa.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on
February 1, 2019. Applicants are encouraged to combine application materials into as
few attachments as possible.
•	Hard copies must be delivered by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 1, 2019, to be eligible for
consideration.
o Mail completed application materials to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Environmental Education
Attn: President's Environmental Youth Award Program
William Jefferson Clinton North, Room 1426
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, MC 1704-A
Washington, DC 20460
Section 6: How Applications Are Judged
Each application is evaluated by a regional awards panel. The panel members review and
evaluate each application based on the criteria. There are separate evaluation criteria for K-5 and
6-12 applications. A maximum of 100 points can be awarded to a given application.
President's Environmental Youth Awards
Today's Youth Protecting Tomorrow's Environment
K-12
Young people from
around the country are
invited annually to participate
in the awards program which
encourages individuals, school
classes, summer camps, public
interest groups, and youth
organizations to promote
environmental awareness and
positive community involvement.
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Evaluation Criteria K-5 (100 points)
Youth Initiative (20points)
How did the applicant(s) come up with the idea for the project? To what extent does the
applicant(s) take charge of the project?
Environmental Stewardship * and Impact (30 points)
Was there an environmental stewardship component to the project? How did the
applicant(s) identify the environmental need for this project? How did the project
positively affect the environment?
Completion of Goals (10 points)
What were the goals of the project? How were they accomplished?
Community Involvement (15 points)
To what extent did the project involve others in the school or community? Please
describe the community.
Project Creativity and/or Innovation (15 points)
What creative and/or innovative approach(es) did the applicant(s) use for the project?
Project Approach (10 points)
To what extent does the application tell a complete story about the project? Did the
applicant(s) have a thought-out approach to solving the problem?
*Definition: "Environmental or Conservation Stewardship" is voluntary commitment, behavior,
and action that results in environmental protection or improvement, or conservation of our
natural resources. Stewardship refers to an acceptance of personal responsibility for actions to
improve environmental quality and to achieve conservation outcomes. Stewardship involves
lifestyles and business practices, initiatives and actions that enhance the state of the environment
and natural resources. Some examples are: living or conducting business in such a way as to
minimize or eliminate pollution at its source; using natural resources efficiently; decreasing the
use of hazardous chemicals; recycling wastes effectively; and conserving or restoring soil,
forests, prairies, wetlands, rivers, and parks. Stewardship can be practiced by individuals, groups,
schools, organizations, companies, communities, and state and local governments.
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Evaluation Criteria 6-12 (100 points)
Youth Initiative (20points)
To what extent was the project designed, coordinated and implemented due to applicant
(s) initiative? How was the project created and completed by the applicant(s)? The
driving force for the project must be the applicant(s), not the sponsor.
Environmental Need and Appropriateness (20 points)
To what extent was there a clear environmental need for the project? How appropriate
was the project for the community in which it was performed?
Environmental Stewardship * and Impact (15 points)
Was there an environmental stewardship component to the project? How did the project
positively affect the community? Were there any long-term environmental benefits or
outcomes of the project?
Completion of Goals (10 points)
Were the goals accomplished? How were they accomplished?
Community Involvement (15 points)
To what extent did the project positively involve others in the community? Please
describe the community. What community resources, expertise, leadership, or publicity
did the applicant(s) use?
Project Creativity and Innovation (10 points)
How did the applicant(s) use innovative approaches to achieve positive results?
Soundness of Approach, Rationale, and Scientific Design (10 points)
Was the approach to the problem clear? Did the applicant(s) have a sound justification for
choosing that approach? If so, what is that justification?
*Definition: "Environmental or Conservation Stewardship" is voluntary commitment, behavior,
and action that results in environmental protection or improvement, or conservation of our
natural resources. Stewardship refers to an acceptance of personal responsibility for actions to
improve environmental quality and to achieve conservation outcomes. Stewardship involves
lifestyles and business practices, initiatives and actions that enhance the state of the environment
and natural resources. Some examples are: living or conducting business in such a way as to
minimize or eliminate pollution at its source; using natural resources efficiently; decreasing the
use of hazardous chemicals; recycling wastes effectively; and conserving or restoring soil,
forests, prairies, wetlands, rivers, and parks. Stewardship can be practiced by individuals, groups,
schools, organizations, companies, communities, and state and local governments.
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Individual/Group Information
Individual/Group Name:
Title of Project:
Number of Participants:
Date Project Began:
Date Project Ended:
Please check the box for the grade level you are applying for below.
:vei yc
~ K-5	[J 6-12
Did the project receive press coverage? If yes, please attach clippings.
~
Yes
U
No
Participants
Fill in the table below with information for each of the youth participants. If necessary, continue on a
separate sheet.
Name
Address City
State
Age
Grade


















Sponsor
List the name and contact information for the adult sponsor. The sponsor must sign and date page A-2
of the application.
Name:
Relationship to Applicant(s):
Address/City/State:
Phone Number:
Email (Primary):
Email (Secondary):
President's Environmental Youth Award Application
Revised November 2018
A-l

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Description of the Project
Please provide a short summary (no more than 300 words) of the project in the space provided below
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 in 3-5 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, font size 12. You may also
include up to 5 additional pages of photographs, press clippings, and other supporting materials.
By signing below, the sponsor (s) certifies that the applicant(s) has performed this project. The sponsor
also certifies that parent or guardian permission has been obtainedfor each applicant to participate in
the PEYA program.
X	Date:	
President's Environmental Youth Award Application
Revised November 2018
A-2

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