U.S. Students Awarded International Environmental Trophy

Rhode Island Students Finish in Top Three at Volvo Contest

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, May 12 -- Middle school students from Westerly, R.I., captured the third place award at the prestigious Volvo Adventure competition in Gothenburg, Sweden. The students submitted a prize-winning E-waste solutions project dealing with the proper way of disposing used computers and other electronic equipment. They were among an international contingent of contest finishers gathered in Sweden as guests of the international car maker. The team from Babcock Middle School was awarded $4,000. "We're thrilled to be among the top finishers and will invest the prize money in our project back home," said team leader Alex Lin, 12. Five Babcock Middle School students journeyed to Sweden as Volvo's guest and to participate in the international competition's judging.

"All Volvo Adventure environment projects were amazing; it was very difficult to choose a winner this year," said Theodore Oben, Head of Children, Youth and Sport Programmes at the United Nations Environment Programme. "Not only did the American students educate their community and recycle old electronics, but they also refurbished over 100 computers and donated them to individuals and families in need."

More than 250 projects were submitted to Volvo Adventure from contestants in 48 countries. From these, 15 were chosen to attend the finals in Gothenburg, May 6 - 11. The finalists, aged 10 - 16, represented Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, India, Kenya, Latvia, the Netherlands, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The $10,000 first prize was awarded to South Africa for their project which improved electrical efficiency in their town. Students from South Korea received the $6,000 second prize for their work on improving the water quality of the Gwangju River.

Each year the judging panel consists of international experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Volvo Car Corporation Environmental Office, and AB Volvo.

"We only have champions here this week at Volvo Adventure -- young people championing the environment by acting locally and thinking globally -- so it is the environment that is the overall winner here this week," added Oben.

Volvo Adventure is a joint project between AB Volvo, Volvo Cars and UNEP. An internet-based competition rewarding proactive environmental action taken by students around the globe, Volvo Adventure gives young people a chance to gain international recognition for their local environmental projects and helps support environmental education in both schools and communities worldwide.

For more information on the Volvo Adventure program, to view student projects or to enroll a project in the 2005-2006 Volvo Adventure competition, go to: /.