For nearly a decade, chemistry students from Skowhegan Area High School working both with their instructors and mentors from SAPPI Fine Paper have solved hypothetical water quality issues based on realistic scenarios. Student teams have been required to locate and isolate contaminates, develop scientifically and economically feasible solutions, and present thier findings to an audience of evaluators consisting of mentors from SAPPI, administrators, teachers, and peers.

This annual project recently led teachers and a core of students together with SAPPI mentors and representatives from the Skowhegan Conservation Commission to assess an actual watershed and evaluate contributors to a potential “non point source” water pollution issue. The Cold Brook Pond Project, named for the watershed under investigation, is a local watershed located between two shopping malls in Skowhegan.

As a consequence of the co-participant’s work both in hypothetical classroom projects, and the outdoor realtime experience, SAPPI was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Environmental Outreach this past November. SAPPI has continually supported our project in the form of mentors and equipment donations to enhance the experience for students here at Skowhegan High School. Their continued generosity has helped nearly eight hundred students for over a period of seven years practice real science in a quest for practical solutions to recurring environmental problems. Thanks to SAPPI for being such a great community leader in assisting students to develop lifelong awareness of the environment.