Columbia, SC—Richland County teacher David Kenga has been named South Carolina’s Conservation Teacher of the Year (Primary) by the South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts (SCACD). Kenga, who manages the science lab at St. John Neumann Catholic School (SJN), was nominated for the award by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District, which recognized him as Richland County’s Conservation Teacher of the Year in 2017.
“The slogan ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ was coined for people like Kenga,” says Jane Hiller, Education Coordinator for Sonoco Recycling and Director of the statewide Green Steps Schools Initiative. Hiller nominated Kenga for the original Richland County conservation award in 2017. When asked what makes Kenga so successful in his quest to promote conservation and stewardship at SJN, Hiller says “he seeks expert advice for ways to establish successful projects; he finds funding; and he empowers and motivates students, teachers, parents, and community members to help build and maintain these model quality projects.”
These “model quality projects” include an extensive school garden, schoolyard pollinator and wildlife habitats, composting and vermicomposting, rain barrels, recycling, upcycling, classroom pets, innovative hands-on science investigations, and a state-of-the-art saltwater aquarium. Kenga has garnered thousands of dollars in grant funding and donations to support these efforts. Most recently, Kenga received a $1,500 Champions of the Environment grant to install refillable water bottle stations at SJN. To learn more about SJN’s school projects, visit https://tinyurl.com/y7j3k3q9.
Kenga will be recognized at the SCACD Awards Banquet on February 27.
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Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. In South Carolina, Conservation District boundaries conform to County boundaries. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise use of natural resources for the benefit of the citizens of Richland County.
Contact
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone (803) 576-2080
Fax (803) 576-2088
E-mail soilandwater@rcgov.us
Facebook www.facebook.com/rswcd