Kenai—Thursday night, a team from Girl Scout Troop 210 made up of Caitlyn Eskelin (KCHS), Emma Hindman (River City Academy), Kadie Newkirk (Connections), and Lyberty Stockman (SoHi) won the $1,600 cash award for the creation and deployment of Bucket Trees for campgrounds. “Sometimes campers don’t have enough water with them to drown their fire before leaving, so we created and built a bucket lending tree near a water source where you can fill the bucket, douse your fire, and return the bucket for someone else to use,” said Caitlyn Eskelin.
The girls built and deployed their bucket trees at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge campgrounds. “When I was ten years old, my mom and dad went out to fight the Funny River Fire; many people had to leave their homes. The thought that I could have lost my parents in the fire inspired me to think of something I could do to help prevent manmade wildfires,” added Caitlyn. “We’re looking forward to bringing Bucket Trees to campgrounds all around Alaska and hopefully even the lower 48,” said Kadie Newkirk, a Connections student, “Building the bucket trees as a team was a great learning experience.”
A Freshman from Soldotna High, Dr. Bezdecny’s science class, and well known for her stage and dance talents in the community, Lucia Micciche earned second place, a $1,100 cash prize for her idea to place warning signs near the mud flats of Cook Inlet. “Many people who were just out for fun have lost their lives in the mud flats. My idea is to put further signage along the flats to ensure tourists and Alaskans are safe and aware of the dangers. I also plan to create a memorial to those who have lost their lives,” said Micciche.
In 3rd place and winning a $900 cash award was a Connections home school brother and sister team of Xinlan & and Xiling Tanner, who produced a video for youth to be interested in sustainable agriculture. “We want our generation to know that farming can be a very fulfilling and fun way of life,” said Xiling.
In 4th place was a team from Cook Inlet Academy, John Guerra, and Caden McKinney, “We feel hydroponics is the next generation of growing on the Kenai, so we developed an inexpensive hydroponic grow kit that everyone can use in their home, so we can all Get Growing,” said Guerra. The team earned $750.00 for their entry.
In 5th Place and a $650 prize is Abigail Crumline of CIA, who wants to protect moose from Choke Cherry trees on the Peninsula.
6th Place winner of $550 is Afton Roberts of KCHS, who wants to get youth involved with a Ham Radio revival club to be prepared for emergency communication in case of a natural disaster.
In addition to the $8,000 in cash awards for the finalists, this year $20,000 will be divided among the classrooms of the finalists that assigned CFK thanks to the CFK signature sponsor Marathon Petroleum Corporation and the CFK community partners Kenai River Raven Lodge, Peninsula Community Health Services, Sweeney’s Clothing, Eyewear Express, Hilcorp, ConocoPhillips, Kenai River Sportfishing Assoc, Homer Electric Assoc. and KSRM radio group. High schools using CFK as part of the state standards curriculum this year were SoHi, Cook Inlet Academy, Homer High, Nikiski Middle High School, and Connections home school students. Students can enter every year of their high school career, whether the contest is assigned in class or not. Each school receives $750 for their participation, and the remainder of the $20,000 is allocated according to how the school’s students rank in the CFK competition.
Other finalists that earned $400 each for making it to the final 12 out of all the entries submitted were:
- Ava Spurgeon-Nikiski- for her Blizzard preparedness kit for drivers
- Hadley Howell-SoHi- plans to get community gardens growing
- Rylan Broyles-SoHi-for his recycling project
- Emma Semmens-CIA-emergency prep for young drivers
- The team of Ruby Davis, Isla Crouse, Annemarie Lacy, and Lucia Carson-KCHS- their idea is to keep Alaska on Daylight Time year-round.
- Asher Franey-SoHi-Clean Beach Initiative
“CFK is an opportunity for Peninsula students to have a real-world experience. The creativity and resiliency of our community and our youth over the years never cease to amaze me.” said Merrill Sikorski, CFK creator. Saturday, April 27 th the top 12 CFK Finalists and their teachers will be honored at the return of the CFK VIP Awards Banquet at the Kenai Visitor Center complements Marathon Petroleum, CFK’s signature sponsor where they will receive their cash awards and meet with community leaders.
This year’s panel of judges included Clayton Holland, KPBSD Superintendent; Bruce Jackman, Marathon Petroleum Corporation Kenai Refinery manager; Ben Wright, PCHS CEO; David Thomas, HEA Mgr Strategic Services; Pegge Erkeneff, River Raven Sanctuary Lodge Tim Dillon, KPEDD retired director and Paxton McKnight, 2023 CFK 1 st Place Winner).
