ECOCAMP
PUJA WINS THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNORS AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENT EXCELLENCE
2018 GOVERNOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER-STUDENT CATEGORY
Puja Vengadasalam, now 16, created an EcoCamp project when 15, to help teenagers become lifelong environmental stewards by advocating for protection of natural resources while developing communication skills and meeting public officials. The two-week camp held in June at the South Plainfield library in Middlesex County used the educational approach of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics methods to focus on the environment through the concepts of workshop, showcase and website. EcoCamp incorporated “Eco” and “camp” elements with “Eco” coming from “Ecology” and Camp being an acronym for Crafts, Arts, Movies and Making Pledges. The EcoCamp showcase gave participants a platform to demonstrate their enhanced advocacy and communication skills, and to meet decision-makers such as the mayor.
PUJA DECLARED STUDENT OF THE YEAR FOR 2018 BY THE NATIONAL POLLUTION ROUNDTABLE
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JEFFERSON AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERISM & PUBLIC SERVICE
Puja was declared 2019 Jefferson Gold medallist for 400 years of volunteerism, 250 of which were on environmental stewardship. The award is from the nation’s oldest & prestigious recognition program for volunteer/public service, and are the official recognition program of the United States Senate. The New Jersey State Governor’s Council on Volunteerism administers the award for New Jersey.
PUJA WINS PRESIDENTIAL GOLD AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
THE OBSERVER NEWSFLASH &
TAP INTO SOUTH PLAINFIELD WRITE UP
Here is the link to the announcement in TAPinto South Plainfield