Youth Spotlight: Eagle Valley High School Green Team

By Michele Zoller: Operations Manager

In 2021, a vision for a more sustainable future took root at Eagle Valley High School (EVHS).  Rylee Sharkey—a former Mountain Youth Valley’s Voice member and Board Member brought the idea to action and the EVHS Green Team began as a mission to create a dedicated space for environmental advocacy. Today, what started as an idea to be a more sustainable Highschool has grown into a 21-member youth led initiate including 12 seniors, all working toward a singular goal: making their school greener and making an impact in our community.

Sponsored by science teachers Nicole Mink and Marc Vonstralendorf, the Green Team is making a daily impact most visible in the cafeteria. Aligning with a 2025 district-wide initiative, the school’s lunch program now utilizes entirely compostable plates, utensils, and napkins. To ensure the program’s success, members patrol the lunchroom, educating their peers on how to properly navigate the new bins for trash, recycling, and composting. Their dedication even extends to "micro-sorting" trash every Thursday to ensure waste is diverted as efficiently as possible.

Beyond the cafeteria, the Green Team has worked to bring sustainability into the very culture of the school.  With recycling bins in every classroom and organizing bi-annual campus clean-ups. Additionally, they partner with the National Honor Society for a community-wide Clothing Swap. This event provides a sustainable way for students and teachers to refresh their wardrobes and even includes a special section for students to "shop" for Prom attire. Their newest initiative targets graduation, the team is collecting caps and gowns to be recycled and borrowed by students in the following years.

Sustainability isn’t all hard work, though—it’s also about celebration. The "Vonaroo" event, timed with Earth Day, brings the student body together with live music and activities like tie-dyeing, proving that environmentalism can be fun and community-focused.

I had the pleasure of interviewing current team members of the club and leaning through the youth voice the heart of the Green Team lies in the perspective of its members. MIKAELA GIFFORD – this year’s president says to her the club is about the power of collective action, noting that she loves "to be with others who believe change can happen and then trying to get there." SHELBY SPIEGEL – Vice President emphasizes that "She wants to know she helped make a change at school and there are many easy way to help make change" while team member KATE ANSNES Sets her focus on "spreading awareness about the Green Team within the classrooms to grow the team and share about the impact we can make."

The EVHS Green Team is for anyone who wants to join their peers in making a difference. It is a reminder that when students lead with passion and a sense of responsibility, they don't just change their school—they can make change in their community.

The Lesson I learned from these wise students is Together, we can create a sustainable future!

Current Call to Action:  Drop off any gently used caps and/or gowns at the front office of EVHS and for more info or to get involved with EVHS Green Team contact Nicole Mink at nicole.mink@eagleschools.net