- 08.14.07
Spring Branch Student Wins “Don't Mess with Texas” Scholarship
(SPRING BRANCH, Texas) — A Smithson Valley High School student who spearheaded a campaign to clean up the Guadalupe River has earned a scholarship awarded through the Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program.
Montana Moeller received a $1,000 scholarship for spearheading local litter-prevention efforts in her community. She received her check May 24 during a special presentation at her high school.
EnviroMedia Social Marketing sponsored the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2007 Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program, which awarded one $3,000 and two $1,000 scholarships this year to help high school students pay for their university educations.
“The Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship is one way for us to create a dialogue with teens about not littering,” said Brenda Flores-Dollar, program manager for TxDOT’s Travel Division. “When students address their community’s litter problem and encourage others to get involved, our Don’t Mess with Texas message becomes even more credible.”
Winning Student Starts Recycling Program on River, At School
Moeller organized a recycling program at a local canoe rental shop on the Guadalupe River to help collect trash. She and a group of friends cleaned the areas along the river once a week during the summer, which eventually led them to expand their litter pickup along local roads.
“I grew up in a rural environment, and we’d watch that area go from clean to dirty every summer,“ said Moeller. “I’m happy there is an incentive out there for young people to make their community more beautiful and get money for college.“
Moeller also organized a litter control program for her school by uniting others to pick up bottles, posters and discarded food wrappers after sporting events. She plans on attending Texas A&M University in College Station to study Bioenvironmental Sciences.
Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship Program
TxDOT received more than 200 applications from high school seniors across the state. The field was narrowed down to a group of 10 students by an independent screener and was then further finalized by a panel of judges. Including this year, top environmentally-focused high school students have received $21,000 in funds through the Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship program.
This year’s two other scholarship winners were Andrea Ciceri from Temple, Texas and Melissa Cox of Muenster, Texas.
Students were required to write an essay about their own sustainable solution to a litter problem in their school or community. The scholarship is open to Texas graduating high school seniors planning to attend accredited two- or four-year colleges or public or private universities in Texas.
“We know the class of 2008 will be just as motivated about the environment as this year’s group of exceptional teens,? said Flores-Dollar. ?We encourage all high school students to talk to their guidance counselor and apply next spring.”
