The 31st annual Caring for the Kenai competition took place Wednesday night. The final 12 took the stage at the KCHS Little Theatre to present their ideas on improving the environment or preparing for a natural disaster in the annual tradition. The finalists competed for over $8,000 in cash prizes for themselves plus $20,000 in cash awards for their high school classrooms.
Emily Moss addressed a potential issue of too many bald eagles at the Soldotna land fill with her original Bee Bomb that won her top placement in the competition. She spoke to KSRM explaining the idea, “Bee Bombs are beehives at the landfill that, with the hopes of deterring birds from frequenting the landfill. When birds eat at the landfill, they’re actually spreading these anti-microbial resistant bacteria and they’re pathogens that have mutated that have become resistant to antibiotics. This is really harmful to humans and our environment. Through my research and researching why this is bad for our environment, of course I came across litter, but in speaking with several experts who have been very gracious to speak with me and answer my questions, I learned that e coli is one of the most prevalent antimicrobial resistant pathogens. I got the idea by actually skiing and running at the Tsalteshi trails and I noticed that there’s a lot of garbage and lots of birds who would go back and forth between the landfill. Through researching this problem, I found that there was more deeper levels to this issue.”
The Caring for the Kenai essay prompt challenges high school students to respond to the question of “what can I do, invent or create to better care for the environment of the Kenai peninsula or improve the area’s preparedness for a natural disaster?” The contest is a high school curriculum for the Kenai Peninsula School District. For taking 1st place, Moss will receive a check at this week’s joint Chamber of Commerce Meeting.
Moss talks about implementing the idea, “Actually this summer, the landfill has been gracious enough to help me set up a site where I’d be able to implement and study this project but I’d also love to implement this in other landfills in the lower 48 where their climate is more stable and bee friendly.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the oral presentations were closed to the public but streamed online through the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. On April 28th, the finalists and participating teachers will receive their awards at a joint Kenai/Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Soldotna Sports Center.
The other top finalists include:
- 2nd place – Maggie Grenier from Nikiski Middle/High School for her creation of Carol the Composting Cow.
- 3rd place – Nekoda Cooper from KCHS for continued marketing of imperfect produce creating a local market for fruits and vegetables.
- 4th place – Regan Evans a home school student with KPBSD Connections for turning recycled denim into insulation for the homeless.
- 5th place – The team of Abigail Youngberg and Lauren Lamb of Cook Inlet Academy for a Smart Stocker App that keeps people prepared for a natural emergency even if all technology fails.
- 6th place – Tatum Rozak of Cook Inlet Academy for a composting project to reduce waste and make free nutritious soil.
Other finalists who made it to the final 12 include:
- Giaseena Nicks, Nikiski Middle/High School, “Invasive Plant Cards”
- Olivia Etzwiler, Homer High, “Hazards you may be Creating”
- Hannnah Stonorov, Homer High, “Access to Oil Absorbents”
- Jessica Perry, Nikiski Middle/High School, “B.E.E. Bold” (Bringing Environmental Education to Youth)
- Seamus McDonough, Homer High, Moose Kill mapping