WINNERS ANNOUNCED
During Spring 2026, high schools across California participated in the Earth Day Challenge, inspiring change in their communities by creating sustainability campaigns. The winning campaigns focused on improving local air and water quality, as well as reducing their schools’ environmental impact, and earned well-deserved prizes. This year's competition featured wonderful campaigns, including two top prize winners in San Diego. Congratulations!
Congratulations to our Spring 2026 Earth Day Challenge Winners! 🌍🏆 Well done!
East Village Middle College High School
Top Campaign (San Diego)
One of this year's top campaigns in San Diego went to East Village Middle College High School’s Interact Club, led by teacher Karen Madden! Through the three part challenge, the team, comprised of students Zahraa, Lana Lyn, Valayah, John, Agnes, and Kiana, learned about the history of Earth Day, and how everyday energy use from renewable and non-renewable sources impacts our environment.
The team also conducted an energy audit, using watt meters to measure the main uses of energy in their classrooms. Having reflected on what they learned, the students planned a jam-packed Earth Day full of tech free activities! From games to chalk art, tote bag painting to planting activities, the East Village Middle College High School student body had a plethora of fun activities to choose from – all of which encouraged them to go tech free! Not only did the students learn about how they can make choices that have a positive impact on the environment, they also learned about the benefits of going screen free.
Students reflected that “Not using phones was amazing. Students would play board games and talk to each other instead of being on their phone… we each got to learn something new about our classmates through genuine screen-free connection. It creates a stronger and more united community within our school as well as a shared goal of doing our part to save the Earth.”
The team also conducted an energy audit, using watt meters to measure the main uses of energy in their classrooms. Having reflected on what they learned, the students planned a jam-packed Earth Day full of tech free activities! From games to chalk art, tote bag painting to planting activities, the East Village Middle College High School student body had a plethora of fun activities to choose from – all of which encouraged them to go tech free! Not only did the students learn about how they can make choices that have a positive impact on the environment, they also learned about the benefits of going screen free.
Students reflected that “Not using phones was amazing. Students would play board games and talk to each other instead of being on their phone… we each got to learn something new about our classmates through genuine screen-free connection. It creates a stronger and more united community within our school as well as a shared goal of doing our part to save the Earth.”
Congratulations to the East Village Middle College High School Interact Club for their creativity, leadership, and the impact of their campaign!
The O'Farrell Charter School
Top Campaign (San Diego)
One of this year’s top campaigns in San Diego County went to The O’Farrell Charter School for their creative approaches to engaging their whole school in protecting our planet. Six groups of students, all led by teacher Chantal Crompton, submitted a variety of campaigns that included presentations to elementary school students, interactive games and quizzes, and even a parody music video based on Tyler, The Creator’s “See You Again”!
The school’s top-scoring campaign was submitted by students Teddi, Marco, Yaritza, and Abraham, who created a presentation and Kahoot game to teach younger students about energy and sustainability. Their presentation contained well-cited information presented clearly, while the interactivity of the Kahoot ensured students would remember what they presented. Though this campaign was the top one in the class, one of O'Farrell's strengths was in using a diversity of tactics across the entire class to engage the entire school community, from Kindergarten to 12th grade!
The school’s top-scoring campaign was submitted by students Teddi, Marco, Yaritza, and Abraham, who created a presentation and Kahoot game to teach younger students about energy and sustainability. Their presentation contained well-cited information presented clearly, while the interactivity of the Kahoot ensured students would remember what they presented. Though this campaign was the top one in the class, one of O'Farrell's strengths was in using a diversity of tactics across the entire class to engage the entire school community, from Kindergarten to 12th grade!
Congratulations to The O’Farrell Charter School for engaging their entire school community through a mix of humor, competition, and well-researched presentations!
PUC Community Charter Early College High School
Top Campaign (Southern California Edison)
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This year’s top campaign in Southern California Edison Territory went to PUC Community Charter Early College High School for their uniquely innovative and interactive Earth Day campaign!
The school’s team, led by teacher Arlena Tupaz and comprised of students Alex, Alexandria, Ashley, Crystal, and Nicolas, engaged students and teachers across their school in-person and online through interactive art, well-designed flyers, and informative social media posts. Students first completed an energy audit on their campus, learning how much energy devices can use even when turned off, informing their campaign to save energy on and off-campus. |
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With this knowledge, students provided valuable and well-cited information to their peers by creating a “Watt Watch” Instagram account and encouraged members of their school community to pledge specific actions they would take to conserve energy. They posted teachers’ pledges as videos on the Instagram account and collected students’ actions on a public pledge tree at their school. This winning team also created an interactive poster in which members of the school community surrounded the Earth with their own handprints in a powerful reminder that we can all play a role in protecting our planet.
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Congratulations to PUC Community Charter Early College High School for leading sustainable change on their campus!
LOOKING BACK
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Students tackled challenges and spearheaded campaigns.
After learning about sustainability issues through research and digital tools, students planned a campaign to improve sustainability in their own communities. They transformed knowledge into action, emerging as sustainability leaders who implemented real change and inspired others to join their environmental causes! |
Missed the Spring 2026 Earth Day Challenge?
Good news! You can still access the Earth Day Challenge materials and complete the challenge to receive a Sustainability Specialist Certificate.
Partners
This program is funded in San Diego County by San Diego Community Power with additional support from San Diego Foundation and Calpine Community Power. This program is administered by the San Diego Foundation. This program is also funded by the Edison International Foundation within Southern California Edison’s service territory.
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