National Society of High School Scholars Foundation (NSHSS Fdn) and Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) Team Up for Second Annual Earth Day Competition

ATLANTA, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Society of High School Scholars Foundation (NSHSS Fdn) (a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity dedicated to supporting education in the form of scholarships for under-represented students in STEM career majors, as well as business, economics, and public policy career majors) teamed up with Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) for the second year to host an international competition centered around Earth Day and youth activation relating to environmental leadership.  Laura Turner Seydel, Captain Planet Foundation Chairperson, announced the partnership at the NSHSS Annual Member Event in December at The Carter Presidential Center.

"This year's winners are an amazing group of student environmental change-makers, who in the truest sense of the phrase "Think Globally, Act Locally," are an inspiration to us all to become more deeply involved in creating the world we wish to live in," said Laura Turner Seydel. 

NSHSS Foundation and Captain Planet Foundation are proud to announce 12 Earth Day Award winners, who will each receive a $500 award and the chance to present their Earth Day projects at an upcoming NSHSS member event or NSHSS Foundation event.  NSHSS Fdn and CPF are committed to encouraging high school students around the globe to show their dedication to the earth through action, highlighting those that are humanitarians, leaders and creators.

"I am deeply honored to recognize the outstanding contributions that young people are making to the environment," said Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes and founder of the NSHSS Foundation.  "Youth are the best chance for creating change in our world and it is crucial for them to understand the importance of environmental protection and preservation."

More than 200 high school students worldwide entered the competition by responding to a question in 500 words or less about how they've helped the environment in their schools and/or communities. The 2014 Earth Day Award winners are:

• Amrita Aggarwal - New Delhi, India
• Samantha Alvarado - Mililani, Hawaii
• Andreea Catalina Dumitrache - Bucharest, Romania
• Jocelyn Foraker - Hope Valley, Rhode Island
• James Foster - Pylesville, Maryland.
• Petrit Kendezi - Goldens Bridge, New York
• Jill Mediatore - Sayville, New York
• Samir Nacer - Cape Coral, Florida
• Michaela Pfeifer - Rochester, Minnesota
• Shailee Samar - Cupertino, California
• Minette Saulog - Saint Paul, Minnesota
• Michelle Tran - Manhattan Beach, California

For more information on the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation, please visit www.nshssfoundation.org. 

About the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation (NSHSS Fdn):
The NSHSS Foundation was founded in 2004 by Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, and James W. Lewis, President of the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).  The NSHSS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity dedicated to supporting education in the form of scholarships for under-represented students in STEM career majors, as well as business, economics, and public policy career majors. The Foundation recognizes the need to produce more graduates in these fields in order to meet the demands of an ever-changing global economy and society to create a better future for all. For more information visit http://www.nshssfoundation.org.

About Captain Planet Foundation (CPF):
Based on the critically-acclaimed animated series "Captain Planet and the Planeteers," CPF was co-founded in 1991 by media mogul Ted Turner and producer Barbara Pyle.   Since then, the Captain Planet Foundation has played a critical role in helping to ensure that the next generation of business leaders and policy makers are environmentally literate citizens who leverage technology and information to manage and protect the land, air and water upon which all life depends.

CPF is a grant-making foundation that has distributed more than $2.5 million to fund over 1,700 hands-on environmental education projects with schools and non-profits that serve children in all 50 U.S. states and in 23 countries internationally. More than 1 million children have directly participated in and benefited from these educational projects.  In addition to its Small Grants Program, the Captain Planet Foundation also supports its Learning Gardens Program, its Planeteer Clubs after-school program, and a number of other science education initiatives.  For more information: www.captainplanetfdn.org.

Media Contact:
Jamie Kronfeld/Alison Mitchell
London Misher Public Relations
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SOURCE National Society of High School Scholars Foundation