- November 23, 2024
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Spruce Creek High School’s Envirothon team, the Advancing Glaciers, won first place out of 22 competing districts in the Florida State Envirothon Competition.
To recognize the team's achievement, Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys read a proclamation during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 16. The Advancing Glaciers placed first in the oral question and wildlife category, second in the soils and aquatics categories, and third in the forest category.
“The next generation is rising to the task and you’re seeing that today with Spruce Creek High School,” Denys said.
The team took the win by 19 points, Denys noted, saying the competition was “not even close.”
The team consisted of Alejandro Morales, Meryl Liu, Melody Palmer and Scott Tobin with alternates Nami Pruitt and Chloe Horncastle. Louise Chapman, an environmental teacher at Spruce Creek High School, organized the team alongside advisors Joshua Platt and Merrick Johnson, and parent chaperone Ann Tobin. The Advancing Glaciers were also sponsored by Volusia County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Riverside Conservancy.
The students will be taking on the North American competition at North Carolina State University on July 29, where they will go through “intensive training, testing, and experiential learning,” said Denys. The team will face other teams from the U.S. and Canada.
“It’s a great day to be a Hawk,” Councilman and former Spruce Creek High School teacher Chase Tramont said. “This is why Spruce Creek is a premiere school in the county and the state of Florida, and one of the premiere ones in the nations, because of the leadership.”
Councilman Scott Stiltner told the team that these achievements are earned.
“Spruce Creek High School has continually risen up and shined in a lot of areas, and this is just another example of how well Spruce Creek High School does and represents Port Orange,” Councilman Drew Bastian said.
Mayor Don Burnette encouraged the students to come back to Port Orange after they further their education so they can contribute to the community.
