Bartlesville High School's Environmental Club has made great progress since its launch in early February. Last summer, BHS Senior Liza Williams (pictured below) came to the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation with the idea to start the Club. Williams also wanted to start a recycling initiative at the school through the Club.

BPS Foundation Executive Director Blair Ellis said the Environmental Club has gone through a month of plastic and paper collections so far. Green Country Shredding and Recycling out of Tulsa dropped by BHS in March for the first pick up. Ellis said GCSR reported that they collected 600 pounds of paper and eight large garbage bags full of plastic bottles from the high school.

The Environmental Club is solely responsible for collecting the bins and containers. Ellis said they are also responsible for advertising the program and for making sure the bins and containers are ready for collection day every month. Collections will be put on hold when students are out of class for the summer.

Ellis said Chevron Phillips Chemical was looking to get involved with sustainability efforts within the District as well. Ellis said the Foundation logically paired them together. She said CPC supplied 110 interior paper and plastic or aluminum bins and five large 96-gallon bins for the program.

CPC also covered the initial cost for shredding. Ellis said the Environmental Club knows and has goals to sustain the Club for the future. She said the Club will take up the fundraising efforts and will take care of the Club's efforts once founder and President Liza Williams graduates from Bartlesville High School in May.

The BPS Foundation will also continue to communicate with the Environmental Club in order to communicate the programs needs. They will mention the Club's hard work to the community and companies like Chevron as well.

According to Ellis, Liza Williams and her classmates expect another pick-up on Wednesday, April 10th. The Environmental Club is also expected to tour the Chevron facility in May.

Students involved in the Environmental Clb include: Aarya Ghonasgi, Amrose Davis, Ashtyn Lashbrook, Autumn Garza, Avery Boulanger, Lainie Van Dusen, Elise Bear, Emily Wetzel, Emma Shelley, Erin Downey, Hadley Davis, Jamie Templeton, Jared Baker, Julia Fodor, Keely Laurence, Lauren Bell, Margaret Drummond, Miki Murad, Stephen Geroge, Miracle Morrison and Vivian Orta.