2020-21 Spring Competition Award Winners
Congratulations to all of the award winners and thank you to everyone who participated in the YES! program, you are all doing amazing work for our planet! “Thank you so much for your participation in the YES! program, and for all of your environmental contributions to your community, your school, and the state of Minnesota.” –Phil Votruba (2021 judge)
- 1st Place ($500): Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School
- Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School YES! team did outstanding work in improving water quality, educating peers, and involving their community. One of the most impressive projects was the West End Reclamation project. The team turned a flooded parking lot into a beautiful rain garden that reduces flooding and increases water quality. The area also serves as a community gathering space with a shelter, a walking path, fruit trees, pollinator gardens and more!
- 2nd Place ($250 each): Mankato West High School & Sleepy Eye Schools (tie)
- Mankato West High School YES! team wowed the judges with their expertise in climate change, environmental justice, and solar energy. The team’s projects included creating a video for the CERTs Solar for Schools Video Contest, hosting an environmental awareness week to educate students on various topics, and planning a solar installation on their high school!
- Sleepy Eye High School & St. Mary’s Catholic School YES! team impressed judges by their community involvement and student outreach efforts. The team completed a variety of projects including recycling over 1,000 lbs. of holiday lights, creating a separation table for cafeteria waste, conducting an Earth Week Celebration, turning plastic bags into mats for the homeless, and more!
Click here to watch the YES! Awards Ceremony video (10 min)!
2019-20 Regional Award Winners
West Central/Northwest Regions
- 1st Place ($400): Lac qui Parle Valley High School (advances to state)
- 2nd Place ($300): New London-Spicer High School
- 3rd Place ($200): Discovery Woods Middle School
- Water Stewardship Award ($400): Royalton High School (advances to state)
Northeast Region
- 1st Place ($325): Northern Lights Community School (advances to state)
- 2nd Place ($225): Harbor City International School
- 3rd Place ($150): Carlton High School
- Water Stewardship Award ($250): Carlton High School (advances to state)
Southern/Metro Regions
- 1st Place ($400): Sleepy Eye High School (advances to state)
- 2nd Place ($300): Mankato West High School
2019-20 State Award Winners
- YES! State Qualifier – Royalton High School
- 2nd Place Award ($250) – Sleepy Eye Schools and Northern Lights Community School
- 1st Place All Star Award ($500) – Lac qui Parle Valley High School
- Water Stewardship Award ($300) – Carlton High School
