Students from Brookings School District once again demonstrated their academic excellence and environmental knowledge at the State NCF-Envirothon competition, held April 14 in Rapid City. In only the district’s second year of participating, Brookings teams placed first and second overall, earning top honors and securing a spot at the international level.
The state champion team includes students Mallory Wells, Madelyn Berkenhoff, Nana Kwame Dwomoh, Marilyn Lopez, and Brielle Smetana. This group earned first-place finishes in three of the five tested areas: Aquatics, Forestry, and Current Issue. Their outstanding performance secured their advancement to the International NCF-Envirothon, which will be held this July in Calgary, Canada. There, they will compete against teams from across the United States, Canada, and China.
This marks the second consecutive year the same group has won the state competition. Last year, the team represented South Dakota at the international level in Geneva, New York, where they earned an impressive 32nd place overall.
The state runner-up team also performed exceptionally well. Team members Quinton Zhu, Waylon Lowe, Shaurya Sehgal, Samuel Caugherty, and Joseph Michna earned a first-place finish in Soil and Land Use, showcasing their depth of knowledge in environmental science and land conservation.
Envirothon is a hands-on environmental and natural resource competition for high school students in the United States, Canada, and China. The program encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and application of knowledge in real-world contexts, emphasizing topics like soil and land use, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and current environmental issues.
Brookings School District is incredibly proud of both teams and their advisors for their dedication, preparation, and commitment to academic excellence. Congratulations to all!
NCF-Envirothon State Champions – South Dakota (from left): Mallory Wells, Madelyn Berkenhoff, Nana Kwame Dwomoh, Marilyn Lopez, and Brielle Smetana
NCF-Envirothon State Runners-up (from left): Quinton Zhu, Waylon Lowe, Shaurya Sehgal, Samuel Caugherty, and Joseph Michna