Vernon Hills High senior receives a scholarship from area garden club

On Tuesday, May 10, the Buffalo Grove Garden Club presented a scholarship award of $1,000 to Allison Klemstein, a senior at Vernon Hills High School.

The award is presented annually to a deserving high school senior who will be majoring in the sciences, including geology, botany, ecology, environmental studies, etc. The scholarship moneys are funded primarily through the club's annual plant sale, which takes place the Saturday after Mother's Day.

Allison has been interested in the environment since childhood. As a young sailing instructor on Lake Michigan, she taught students about invasive species and the effects of littering on our lakes, encouraging students to maintain the water they sail on.

Last summer, she joined the Sierra Club water testing team. They tested for anatoxin-a and microcystin, which are harmful to the nervous system and liver. Presently, she is assisting with an educational social media campaign about watersheds, including best practices, like disposing of pet waste, limiting pesticide use, planting rain gardens and composting leaves.

Allison is also involved with her school's Environmental Club, where they are fundraising to benefit school water filtration systems in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

In the future, Allison's career in civil and environmental engineering will enable her to protect and restore the environment she enjoys so much.

"Good Luck to you, Allison. We know you will make your parents, your school and us very proud," said Krys Luby, Buffalo Grove Garden Club communications coordinator.

For information about the Buffalo Grove Garden Club, future plant sales and more, visit www.buffalogrovegardenclub.org.