Illinois American Water Awards Rolling Meadows High School Grant to Support Agriculture Pathway
Illinois American Water presented Rolling Meadows High School District 214 with a $2,000 grant to support the school's new Agriculture Pathway with a focus on sustainability. The grant was part of the company's annual environmental grant program for watershed initiatives that improve, restore or protect watersheds across the state. Since 2009, Illinois American Water's Environmental Grant program has awarded more than $222,000 to 66 projects dedicated to water protection.
"Through our environmental grant program, we provide stronger support for community initiatives related to clean water, conservation, education and community sustainability," explained Jen Thornburg, Senior Manager of the Chicago Metro District for Illinois American Water.
The project entails students collecting water samples from Salt Creek, researching proper native plants for the adjacent prairie, growing the plants from seedlings using the school's new greenhouse classroom, and transplanting them leading to a student-developed natural biofiltration system. The environmental grant will also support related field trips, plants and tools.
Rolling Meadows Principal, Eileen Hart thanked the company for their support. "We are incredibly excited to receive this funding, which will help us continue to build our new agriculture pathway in ways that empower our students to learn in and out of the classroom. This money makes it possible for students to study, plant, nurture and replant native plants, creating a biofiltration system for Salt Creek in partnership with city leadership. At Rolling Meadows High School and across District 214, we believe strongly in providing real-world opportunities like these to our students. We know it enriches their experience in high school and prepares them for future success. In this case, we're simultaneously teaching them about sustainability and the importance of bettering the world around them."
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit www.amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.