Belgreen heads to national competition

By Staff
Melissa Cason
BELGREEN – This week the Belgreen Envirothon Team is making final preparations for their trip to North Carolina to compete in the National Envirothon Competition.
Sponsor Cindy Fleming said the team is ready for the competition. During the weeklong competition in Ashville, N.C., the team will be tested on the areas of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics, and current issues. The team will also have to work together to solve a problem.
"This year's current issue is biodiversity in a changing world, but we won't actually get the problem until the competition," Fleming said.
The team has met several times to prepare for the competition, brining in specialists to help them with the different areas of study.
The team went to the national competition last year, but placed 13 in the presentation competition.
"Last year, we didn't really know what to expect," Fleming said. "I think we are a lot more prepared this time."
Fleming said the team is losing three seniors this year, and she will have to begin searching for their replacements at the beginning of the school year.
"I do have a few people in mind, but they have to write an essay about why they want to be a part of Envirothon, and the selection process is based on their essay. They have to really want to do it," Fleming said.
The team's trip to the nationals is being sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District, Belgreen School, the Franklin County Board of Education, TVA, and Legacy.
"Legacy is a major sponsor of the Alabama Envirothon so they help pay for out trip to the nationals," Fleming said.