SAVE Environmental Club members Nazifa Ruhiya, Ben Obechina and Jada Scott competed against surrounding Cleveland schools at the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation Symposium and won best in "Action Project '' for the Native Plant sale that they helped conduct this year.The students worked with other SAVE Club students William Jones, Lydia Funk, Daniel Lett, Takhia Penny, Aila Langiian (Graduated), Ja'vion Binkley, Kourtnie Freeman, and Amira Burgan.

With the help of Ed Karpraly of Riverside Native Perennials, students sold 211 plants and earned over $500.  The students hope to use this money to start a Pollinator Garden at the high school next year.  The SAVE Club is looking forward to creating partnership and coordinating with Cuyahoga Soil and Water District, Cuyahoga National Parks, the Euclid City Schools grounds crew,  Principal Corey Russell, the THRIVE Program,  Riverside Native Perennials, and Meadow City Native Plant Nursery to get the garden started!
 
At the symposium Nazifa, Ben, and Jada presented the project in front of two rounds of judges who asked questions about the importance of native plants. The students explained how native plant roots are good at filtering out our drinking water for the Lake Erie watershed, provide habitat and food for butterflies and bees, and reduce climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide.  Additionally, the native plants provide beautiful flowers for everyone to enjoy.

Students were also able to attend a natural resources job fair where they were able to learn about environmental jobs.  Students spoke to scientists and other natural resource professionals from EPA,  Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga National Parks, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation and more.

Special Thanks to Ed Karaply of Riverside Native Perennials for all his work helping us with the fundraiser. Thanks to Jackie Zevenbergen, Tim Becker and Katie Chapel of Soil and SAVE Club for support and encouragement. Thank you to everyone that purchased plants from the SAVE Environmental Club! Together we can make the world a better place!