Union County student wins Earthwatch Institute Award

Union County High School student Walker Harmon.

Recently, Earthwatch Institute announced the names of 100 high school students, including Union County High School sophomore Walker

Harmon, who will take part in this summer's Student Challenge Awards Program. Competition was tough, since over 300 students older than sixteen were nominated by one of their teachers. Walker was nominated by Mrs. Molly Marsh, art teacher at the high school.

The Awards Program, which aims to expand the potential of high school students and interest them in science, allows students to

participate in field research expeditions and work with professional scientists. All field and travel costs are covered by Earthwatch. Groups of 6 - 8 award winners will spend up to three weeks at one of eleven research projects. These programs range from marine biology to geology and take place across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.

Along with 7 other award winners, Walker will travel to Challis, Idaho and from June 15 - June 26 will assist professor Ken Cannon and Molly Boeka Cannon at the Challis Bison Kill site. It is thought that Shoshoni Native Americans used this site as a buffalo jump in the early 19th century, however reanalysis suggests an older and more complex site history. On his return from the expedition Walker will write a detailed mission report and will write a follow-up press release.

Walker is a good match for this project because he is very interested in anthropology and how humans interact with their environment. He is especially interested in Stone Age technology.

The Student Challenge Awards Program has many personal and educational benefits, ranging from heightened self-confidence and

interpersonal skills to greater scientific knowledge and interest in different career paths. Earthwatch seeks imaginative, intelligent students with limited experiences working with scientists. Students are not required to have a strong background in science. For more information about this program or teacher fellowships and volunteer opportunities visit www.earthwatch. org or call 800-776-0188. Earthwatch is a nonprofit organization which helps to protect and sustain the global environment by engaging people worldwide in field research and education.