A team of five Sachem High School North students secured a first-place finish at the 20th annual Long Island Regional Envirothon environmental studies competition on April 25. 

Seniors Chris Eagler, Emily Hudak and Molly Kearns teamed up with junior Emily Gelardi and sophomore Miranda Garcia-Cassani as they navigated the five subject areas of this year’s Envirothon. The topics included the four recurring subjects of aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife, and rangeland management served as the current issue for this year. 

During the competition, students cycled throughout the subject stations, where they answered a collection of multiple-choice questions that incorporated hands-on elements, including various equipment, maps and audiovisual devices. As part of the competition, students were given an environmental issue for the focus of an oral presentation that is delivered to a panel of judges. Students underwent extensive preparation during their free time leading up to the detailed 10-minute presentation. 

As first-place winners, each team member received $500 and a local field guide and was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to compete at the New York State Envirothon in Geneva, New York, on May 23 and 24.