This Month's Future Environmental Star:
Phillip C. Showell Elementary School - 
Terracycle Bottle Buddy Brigade
Selbyville, DE

Terracycle Bottle Buddy Brigade of Phillip C. Showell Elementary Named WMDT/Mountaire Future Environmental Star(s) of the Month

Ronna Cobb and the “Little School that’s Big on Learning” are doing their part for the environment both in and around the school campus in Selbyville, DE.

WMDT & Mountaire Farms are proud to announce Ronna Cobb and her Terracycle Bottle Buddy Brigade at Phillip C. Showell Elementary School as the recipients of the WMDT/Mountaire Future Environmental Star of the Month award for August.  From the outset of the 2009-2010 school year, the students and faculty at the quaint elementary school, located in Selbyville, DE, made it a priority to recycle and instill a sense of environmental responsibility in everyone associated with the facility.  Led by Mrs. Cobb, the Campus Monitor, the Terracycle Bottle Buddy Brigade was formed from interested members of the student body, with a purpose of implementing all recycling activities.  These activities range from collecting paper products and boxes in the classrooms, to rounding up all milk bottles used by students during breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria.  Paper products are sorted and turned in at local recycling facilities, while the milk bottles are packed up and shipped to Terracycle, where they are used to make bottles for bubble mix.  Best of all, Terracycle pays two cents per bottle, with all proceeds going to the school’s Student Council to aid in supporting other student programs. 

"This year with the bottles, we've recycled 38,000, and we've made $756."  - Ronna Cobb

Recycling is just one environmental initiative the school has undertaken.  During the past year they worked with the Center for the Inland Bays to create a schoolyard habitat, which was built just off the main playground, making it visible to students and local citizens traveling on the street.  Working hand-in-hand in the formation of the habitat has allowed the young stars to take in the full benefits the sanctuary provides for a multitude of plants and animals.  From the experience students have been able to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of our waterways and the delicate balance between society and nature.  The ever growing habitat is home to frogs, turtles, insects and a variety of plants, all tended to by students and continuously used as an entertaining learning tool by teachers and faculty of Phillip C. Showell Elementary.  For these efforts, they were chosen as the WMDT/Mountaire Future Environmental Star(s) of the Month.

“On any given school day, At Phillip T. Showell Elementary School, you will find a  principal who participates in  hand-to-mind educational experiences with her students and teachers; a teaching and professional staff that work with the enthusiasm and spirit of their leader; and a community that appreciate the environmental efforts of this “school-that-can-do."  "Ms. Ronna Cobb and everyone, who participate in the daily activities at Phillip T. Showell are to be commended for the educational partnerships they have melded with the Center for the Inland Bays and the Corporate community as they develop future leadership qualities in their enthusiastic youth.” - Roger Marino, Corporate Director of Community Relations, Mountaire Farms, Inc.

To view previous month's winners click here

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Help Us Honor Those Students Who Are Making a Difference  Monthly award highlights local students, classrooms or youth groups who are contributing to the advancement, promotion and improvement of our environment.

How the program works:

The WMDT/Mountaire Farms Future Environmental Stars program is designed to recognize, highlight and reward Delmarva area students/classrooms who have developed and successfully implemented GREEN programs for their schools or community. These projects are intended to promote an ecologically friendly act, examples of past projects include: Building nature trails, starting a recycling program, restoring native habitats, creating schoolyard habitats, planting tree groves and many other creative, sustainable efforts.

Nomination Steps:

Each month WMDT (Channel 47) and MOUNTAIRE will determine and recognize the award winning area student(s) or classroom who is making that outstanding contribution to the advancement, promotion, awareness and improvement of our environment. The awards will include an acrylic engraved table-top trophy; 21 promotional television commercial spots; 8 televised newscasts; 30 days of exposure on the WMDT Station’s and the Mountaire Web pages. Also, we are in the process of developing an environmental magazine in which the entire school season of nominated science classrooms and educators will be featured

Step 1: Put together a nomination packet: Packet should include:
- Name & Contact info of the student/classroom and adult contact
- Description of the project or environmental acts, please no more than 500 words
- Please include any photos or web links that helps promote what you are doing.

Step 2: Mail or e-mail the nomination to:
Attn: Roger Marino (rmarino@mountaire.com)
Future Environmental Star
P.O. Box 1320
Millsboro, DE 19966

For a printable version of the flyer click here