Hillsborough County students at 34 schools will study the issues surrounding our freshwater resources thanks to "Splash! school grants":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/schoolgrants/ from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The Hillsborough County awardees are:
* Christine Lindbak, *Alonso High*, was awarded $2,150. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River watershed and then conduct water quality tests while on a field trip to the Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Sonia Coleman, *B.T. Washington Elementary*, was awarded $1,425. Students will study freshwater species and the aquifer on a field trip to the Crystal Springs Preserve. Students will also track water usage at home and create posters and videos to share with the school.
* Carol Mayo, *Bailey Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Daniel Opila, *Bellamy Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Melissa Triebwasser, *Doby Elementary*, was awarded $1,600. On a field trip to Tampa Bay, students will learn about estuaries and how to preserve the health of the bay. Students will share this knowledge with their school peers and parents.
* Kyla DonLevy, *Durant High*, was awarded $850. Students will study freshwater systems, watersheds and water quality while visiting the Swamp Head River, the Hillsborough River and Crystal Springs.
* Rebecca Rouch, *Easy Bay High*, was awarded $1,360. Students will learn how water is treated and supplied to local residents through field trips to a desalination plant and waste water treatment plant.
* Alyssa Mormon, *Edison Elementary*, was awarded $1,033. Students will learn about freshwater habitats and types of pollution affecting freshwater habitats. Students will create posters and fliers to share with their families, school and community.
* Laura Franklin, *Foster Elementary*, was awarded $1,225. Students will learn about water conservation through the use of rain barrels in the school's garden. On field trips to the Hillsborough River and Upper Tampa Bay Park, students will study water quality and the difference in fresh and estuarine waters.
* Jennifer Fritz, *Gaither High*, was awarded $1,600. Students will visit Crystal Springs Preserve to test water quality and gather biological samples to study the health of the Hillsborough River and the surrounding watershed.
* Carolyn Klein, *Giunta Middle*, was awarded $1,931. Students will care for plants using water from rain barrels and other water-conserving methods learned in class. Students will create and distribute brochures about their garden conservation efforts.
* Sara White, *Henderson Hammock Charter*, was awarded $754. Students will become "Watershed Warriors" and create a podcast sharing what they learn through classroom activities on the water cycle, watersheds and water quality.
* Iris Willis, *Hillsborough High*, was awarded $2,500. Students will study stormwater runoff by monitoring water quality at the Robles Park retention pond. Students will work with the City of Tampa Beautification Department to design landscaping that filters pollutants before entering the pond. The project will be promoted by hosting community meetings, creating a digital movie and presenting to the school board among other outlets.
* Deborah Flock, *Jackson Elementary*, was awarded $2,999. Students will tour a water treatment facility to learn how wastewater can affect freshwater resources. Students will also study wetland habitats and test water quality on a field trip to Walden Lake. A community awareness campaign will allow students to share what they've learned.
* Kristy Carew, *King High*, was awarded $2,250. Students will test water and soil and learn about different animal and plant species while on field trips to Upper Tampa Bay Park and Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Michele Smcox, *Knights Elementary*, was awarded $1,040. Students will take a field trip to Cockroach Bay to test the water quality and dip net for living organisms in the water. They will learn the importance of healthy water and ecosystems.
* Jane Kemp, *Lawton Chiles Elementary*, was awarded $1,699. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm. Students will also maintain a water-conserving garden on the school's campus and monitor water use in the garden.
* Cynthia Doyle, *Lincoln Elementary Magnet*, was awarded $263. Through water-related books and classroom resources, students will learn water is a limited resource and why it's important to conserve water. Students will make brochures to share with others.
* Ashley Biernacki, *Mann Middle*, was awarded $2,802. Students will trace water and pollutants from Crystal Springs to Tampa Bay while testing water quality at several field locations. Students will educate others about how human actions on land affect freshwater resources.
* LeeAnne Foster, *Martinez Middle*, was awarded $1,615. Students will learn about water conservation, water quality and watersheds through classroom activities and the use of rain barrels and hydroponic gardening systems. Students will teach fourth-graders from a nearby school about water conservation and watersheds.
* Elaine Gibbs, *Middleton High*, was awarded $1,800. Students will study the various habitats at Crystal Springs Preserve and test water samples from each. Students will also perform an investigation of the Hillsborough River and tour a sewage treatment plant about a treatment plant's role in water conservation.
* Deborah Seto, *Orange Grove Middle Magnet*, was awarded $2,670. Students will test water and soil at Crystal Springs Preserve and compare it to data collected in retention and detention ponds in east Tampa. Through their comparison, students will learn about the health of the Hillsborough River.
* Deetra McAlmont, *Potter Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Jennell Graham, *Pride Elementary*, was awarded $2,800. Students will learn about the water cycle and how it relates to weather patterns. They will track rain fall and learn about the importance of rain as a source of fresh water. Students will also learn about estuarine habitats while on a field trip at Tampa Bay Watch.
* Georgianna Trowbridge, *Riverview High School*, was awarded $2,512. Students will test water quality and explore aquatic species at Crystal Springs Preserve. Students will complete a study to see how soil, vegetation and wildlife may be affected by their proximity to the Hillsborough River.
* Gladys Jackson, *Robles Elementary*, was awarded $240. Through classroom activities, students will learn about the importance of water and conserving it. As a class, students will create a book about what they learn. The book will be published and shared with other classes and the student's families.
* Cindy Wilkinson, *Seminole Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Amy Stockard, *Springhead Elementary*, was awarded $1,170. Students will learn ways to minimize the negative effects of landscaping and agriculture on Florida's water supply and water quality. Students will compare water saved through hydroponic versus traditional gardening methods.
* Andria Keene, *Strawberry Crest High*, was awarded $1,634. Students will visit the Florida Aquarium and learn about rivers and estuaries while identifying aquatic species and testing water. Students will also participate in a community service-learning project to establish oyster bars with Tampa Bay Watch.
* Christine Saettone, *Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Julie Sackles, *Tampa Bay Technical High*, was awarded $1,300. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River and its watershed on a field trip to Crystal Springs Preserve where students will test water samples and collect specimen. They will also remove invasive plants on the river as part of a community service project.
* Michele Paschal, *Tampa Palms Elementary*, was awarded $2,984. Students will learn about the water cycle and water conservation and use water collected in rain barrels to supply the school's garden. Students will share this information on the school's morning news show and create a newsletter for the community.
* Meichelle Long, *Terrace Community Middle*, was awarded $2,400. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Emily Petrilli, *Tomlin Middle*, was awarded $1,384. Students will visit Crystal Springs Preserve to test water quality and explore aquatic species. Students will also perform an invasive species clean-up along the Hillsborough River and educate others through the school's website and morning show.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of topics that meet the District's core mission and teach students about their local watersheds, water conservation, quality and supply. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public school teachers.
Melissa Gulvin, the District's K-12 education coordinator, said the grant program is important because Splash! Grants provide funding teachers may not otherwise have to create water-resources programs specific to their students.
"For instance, if a school's campus is near a local water body, students may conduct hands-on water testing and clean-ups while learning how their actions affect the health of that local water body and the surrounding watershed," she said.
This year, 94 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16-county region to educate students on water resources. Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and school or community outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards and can be ordered on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/publications/":http://www.WaterMatters.org/publications/.
The Hillsborough County awardees are:
* Christine Lindbak, *Alonso High*, was awarded $2,150. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River watershed and then conduct water quality tests while on a field trip to the Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Sonia Coleman, *B.T. Washington Elementary*, was awarded $1,425. Students will study freshwater species and the aquifer on a field trip to the Crystal Springs Preserve. Students will also track water usage at home and create posters and videos to share with the school.
* Carol Mayo, *Bailey Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Daniel Opila, *Bellamy Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Melissa Triebwasser, *Doby Elementary*, was awarded $1,600. On a field trip to Tampa Bay, students will learn about estuaries and how to preserve the health of the bay. Students will share this knowledge with their school peers and parents.
* Kyla DonLevy, *Durant High*, was awarded $850. Students will study freshwater systems, watersheds and water quality while visiting the Swamp Head River, the Hillsborough River and Crystal Springs.
* Rebecca Rouch, *Easy Bay High*, was awarded $1,360. Students will learn how water is treated and supplied to local residents through field trips to a desalination plant and waste water treatment plant.
* Alyssa Mormon, *Edison Elementary*, was awarded $1,033. Students will learn about freshwater habitats and types of pollution affecting freshwater habitats. Students will create posters and fliers to share with their families, school and community.
* Laura Franklin, *Foster Elementary*, was awarded $1,225. Students will learn about water conservation through the use of rain barrels in the school's garden. On field trips to the Hillsborough River and Upper Tampa Bay Park, students will study water quality and the difference in fresh and estuarine waters.
* Jennifer Fritz, *Gaither High*, was awarded $1,600. Students will visit Crystal Springs Preserve to test water quality and gather biological samples to study the health of the Hillsborough River and the surrounding watershed.
* Carolyn Klein, *Giunta Middle*, was awarded $1,931. Students will care for plants using water from rain barrels and other water-conserving methods learned in class. Students will create and distribute brochures about their garden conservation efforts.
* Sara White, *Henderson Hammock Charter*, was awarded $754. Students will become "Watershed Warriors" and create a podcast sharing what they learn through classroom activities on the water cycle, watersheds and water quality.
* Iris Willis, *Hillsborough High*, was awarded $2,500. Students will study stormwater runoff by monitoring water quality at the Robles Park retention pond. Students will work with the City of Tampa Beautification Department to design landscaping that filters pollutants before entering the pond. The project will be promoted by hosting community meetings, creating a digital movie and presenting to the school board among other outlets.
* Deborah Flock, *Jackson Elementary*, was awarded $2,999. Students will tour a water treatment facility to learn how wastewater can affect freshwater resources. Students will also study wetland habitats and test water quality on a field trip to Walden Lake. A community awareness campaign will allow students to share what they've learned.
* Kristy Carew, *King High*, was awarded $2,250. Students will test water and soil and learn about different animal and plant species while on field trips to Upper Tampa Bay Park and Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Michele Smcox, *Knights Elementary*, was awarded $1,040. Students will take a field trip to Cockroach Bay to test the water quality and dip net for living organisms in the water. They will learn the importance of healthy water and ecosystems.
* Jane Kemp, *Lawton Chiles Elementary*, was awarded $1,699. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm. Students will also maintain a water-conserving garden on the school's campus and monitor water use in the garden.
* Cynthia Doyle, *Lincoln Elementary Magnet*, was awarded $263. Through water-related books and classroom resources, students will learn water is a limited resource and why it's important to conserve water. Students will make brochures to share with others.
* Ashley Biernacki, *Mann Middle*, was awarded $2,802. Students will trace water and pollutants from Crystal Springs to Tampa Bay while testing water quality at several field locations. Students will educate others about how human actions on land affect freshwater resources.
* LeeAnne Foster, *Martinez Middle*, was awarded $1,615. Students will learn about water conservation, water quality and watersheds through classroom activities and the use of rain barrels and hydroponic gardening systems. Students will teach fourth-graders from a nearby school about water conservation and watersheds.
* Elaine Gibbs, *Middleton High*, was awarded $1,800. Students will study the various habitats at Crystal Springs Preserve and test water samples from each. Students will also perform an investigation of the Hillsborough River and tour a sewage treatment plant about a treatment plant's role in water conservation.
* Deborah Seto, *Orange Grove Middle Magnet*, was awarded $2,670. Students will test water and soil at Crystal Springs Preserve and compare it to data collected in retention and detention ponds in east Tampa. Through their comparison, students will learn about the health of the Hillsborough River.
* Deetra McAlmont, *Potter Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Jennell Graham, *Pride Elementary*, was awarded $2,800. Students will learn about the water cycle and how it relates to weather patterns. They will track rain fall and learn about the importance of rain as a source of fresh water. Students will also learn about estuarine habitats while on a field trip at Tampa Bay Watch.
* Georgianna Trowbridge, *Riverview High School*, was awarded $2,512. Students will test water quality and explore aquatic species at Crystal Springs Preserve. Students will complete a study to see how soil, vegetation and wildlife may be affected by their proximity to the Hillsborough River.
* Gladys Jackson, *Robles Elementary*, was awarded $240. Through classroom activities, students will learn about the importance of water and conserving it. As a class, students will create a book about what they learn. The book will be published and shared with other classes and the student's families.
* Cindy Wilkinson, *Seminole Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Amy Stockard, *Springhead Elementary*, was awarded $1,170. Students will learn ways to minimize the negative effects of landscaping and agriculture on Florida's water supply and water quality. Students will compare water saved through hydroponic versus traditional gardening methods.
* Andria Keene, *Strawberry Crest High*, was awarded $1,634. Students will visit the Florida Aquarium and learn about rivers and estuaries while identifying aquatic species and testing water. Students will also participate in a community service-learning project to establish oyster bars with Tampa Bay Watch.
* Christine Saettone, *Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Julie Sackles, *Tampa Bay Technical High*, was awarded $1,300. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River and its watershed on a field trip to Crystal Springs Preserve where students will test water samples and collect specimen. They will also remove invasive plants on the river as part of a community service project.
* Michele Paschal, *Tampa Palms Elementary*, was awarded $2,984. Students will learn about the water cycle and water conservation and use water collected in rain barrels to supply the school's garden. Students will share this information on the school's morning news show and create a newsletter for the community.
* Meichelle Long, *Terrace Community Middle*, was awarded $2,400. Students will participate in activities centered on the water cycle, water pollution and aquifer recharge while on a field trip to Sweetwater Organic Farm.
* Emily Petrilli, *Tomlin Middle*, was awarded $1,384. Students will visit Crystal Springs Preserve to test water quality and explore aquatic species. Students will also perform an invasive species clean-up along the Hillsborough River and educate others through the school's website and morning show.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of topics that meet the District's core mission and teach students about their local watersheds, water conservation, quality and supply. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public school teachers.
Melissa Gulvin, the District's K-12 education coordinator, said the grant program is important because Splash! Grants provide funding teachers may not otherwise have to create water-resources programs specific to their students.
"For instance, if a school's campus is near a local water body, students may conduct hands-on water testing and clean-ups while learning how their actions affect the health of that local water body and the surrounding watershed," she said.
This year, 94 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16-county region to educate students on water resources. Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and school or community outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards and can be ordered on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/publications/":http://www.WaterMatters.org/publications/.