HARRINGTON — One of John Carney’s stops during his final visit to the Delaware State Fair Governor’s Day as the state’s leader included the bestowing of several youth awards.
On Thursday, Gov. Carney stopped by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Building to present five prizes: two to the Young Environmentalists of the Year and three to Youth Fishing Tournament awardees.
“I just want to use this opportunity to thank all the people that work at (the agency) for their tremendous work and for showing us how to be really good stewards of our environment,” he said at the gathering.
“And (for) showing us how important that is — probably more important today than any time in my lifetime, as we look to the future. And we’re going to celebrate some young environmentalists, who are the ones who are going to take us there, and they’re already doing it.”
The middle school Young Environmentalist of the Year winner, Laurel Elementary School fifth grader Charli Rose Evans, has received many similar awards from DNREC before. But, this year, she focused on sustainability, with her small business, Charli’s Chicks.
“She recycles food scraps to feed her chickens, and in tune with nutrient cycles and soil health, she grinds eggshells from her chickens to add calcium to her garden soil,” said department secretary Shawn Garvin. “For a commitment to sustaining sustainable living, local food production and educating our peers ... and a wide audience of social media, we honor Charli today and encourage her to continue her work.”
In the high school category, 12th grader Melisa Velasquez from Sussex Central High School took home the prize.
“Among her honors, the Georgetown resident has a win in the Sussex Preservation Coalition (Youth) Environmental Film Contest, an individual award for forestry in the Delaware ENVIROTHON and a (win) in the statewide RENEW essay contest, a Delaware Interfaith Power & Light Program that invites high school students to write about their connection to nature, climate action and environmental justice that took her to Delaware Legislative Hall to speak with legislators,” Mr. Garvin said.
Melisa also helped raise funds for a pollinator garden at Ingram Pond in Millsboro and the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy.
Gov. Carney also recognized the winners of DNREC’s 2024 Youth Fishing Tournament, held in each county June 1:
- Twelve-year-old Brody Spencer of Dagsboro took first place both statewide and in Sussex County for his 5.71 pounds of fish caught at Ingram Pond. This is the second consecutive year Brody took first.
- Fourteen-year-old Brice Wise of Bear won second place overall and first place in New Castle County with 3.31 pounds of fish from Lums Pond.
- Five-year-old Thomas Sweeney-Jones of Smyrna came in third overall and first in Kent County, with 2.98 pounds of fish caught at the Akridge Scout Reservation.
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