The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) nabbed the grand prize winner title in the Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition, which was presented by Pureology. The school, which dates back to 1857 and serves children from Kindergarten through 12th grade, will receive a green makeover worth $130,000, including $65,000 for school renovations and an additional $65,000 worth of technical assistance.
TSD plans to update its facilities to allow for energy efficient upgrades and initiate water conservation tactics and waste reduction tactics. It also plans to educate the student body on recycling.
"This prize will help us take our fledgling recycling efforts to the next level and install some important tools, like automatic faucets, to help us become more sustainable," says TSD Superintendent Claire Bugen.
"When I first heard about the Green School Makeover from Pureology, I knew this school would be an ideal fit," says Francisco Villa, owner of Francisco's Salon in Austin, Texas, who alerted TSD of the competition and assisted with the entry process.
"All great accomplishment in schools come from community partnerships and so it was with Francisco's Salon," adds Bugen. "After doing a few great makeovers and a cut-a-thon in support of TSD, Francisco suggested we try to get a green makeover for the campus and that's how we learned about the competition."
Four runner-up schools will each receive a $2,500 cash prize for sustainability upgrades. The winning schools include Garlough Environmental School in St. Paul, Minn., Heritage Middle School in Berwyn, Ill., Samuel Powel Elementary School in Philadelphia and Zimmerman School House/Abi's Place in Coral Springs, Fla.
"Global Green USA has been greening schools for more than a decade. We believe every child deserves a healthy learning environment," says Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Global Green. "Green schools improve student performance, increase average daily attendance, and reduce operating costs, energy and water consumption."
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| Students proudly support TSD's green initiatives |
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