An environmental group for St. Thomas young people has won first prize — and $10,000 — in a national environmental competition.
The first-prize trophy in the Planet Ocean category and a $10,000 check will be presented in Tampa to the Reef Rangers on Earth Day, April 22.
Reef Rangers founder Paula Morgan and two Reef Rangers, Marie Freeman and Ojana Smith, will be flown to Tampa to receive the award given by Sea World and Busch Gardens, sponsors of the contest.
"The Reef Ranger project was selected for the prize among entrants from all over the world," Morgan said.
The 2-year-old group's winning project: student-produced videos about the island's reefs that are shown regularly on St. Thomas-St. John Cable TV's tourist-information channel.
A grand prize winner will be announced at the Earth Day ceremony from among eight category winners. The grand prize winners will get an additional $10,000 and five trips to Sea World/Busch Gardens’ Adventure Camp.
"The prize money will help improve and expand the Reef Ranger Program," according to Edwardo Corneiro, project coordinator.
Reef Rangers now has 19 members. They hope the prestige of the national prize will help them recruit more members.
