Past Winners
2024 Final Results
Thank you to all of the students who participated in this contest. Over 258 entries were received!
The $1,000 first place prize was awarded to Ethan, Cade, Matise and Emma from Dayspring Christian Academy for their proposal called, “Convenient Compost”.
| Finalists | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School Name | Teacher Names |
| Finalists | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School Name | Teacher Name |
| 1 | 1000 | Ethan, Cade, Matise, Emma | Convenient Compost | Dayspring Christian Academy | Annamarie Therrien |
| 2 | 900 | Lisa | Bee Patches | Berthoud High School | Renee Curry |
| 3 | 800 | Anya, Alex, Avan | Reaching New Heights: Elevate Your Green Game with Vertical Hydroponics! | Innovation Center | Jayme Sneider |
| 4 | 700 | Sienna | The Compost Cycle | Roosevelt High School | Kellie Huggins |
| 5 | 600 | Olivia, Isabella, Madelyn | Caring For Our Cougars: A Workbook | Resurrection High School | Brenda Otteman |
| 6 | 500 | Liv, Alena, Stella | Replant Society | Rocky Mountain High School | Yajaira Fuentes – Tauber |
| 7 | 450 | Maple | Moths Matter | Union Colony Preparatory School | Eileen Duncan |
| 8 | 400 | Harley, Kenia, Presley | SPROUT the Hope & BEE the Change | Fort Morgan High School | Mary Annaba Yangzon |
| 9 | 350 | Joy, Emmaline | Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose Clothing. | Resurrection High School | Brenda Otteman |
| 10 | 300 | Willow, Sawyer | Agua, Ash, and Academics | Rocky Mountain High School | Yajaira Fuentes – Tauber |
| Runner-up | 100 | Arely | Say no to aquatic trash! | Greeley West High School | Corrine Calhoon |
| Runner-up | 100 | Gretchen | Short Comic Posters To Spread The Word | Fort Collins High School | Michael Steinle |
| Honorable mention | Gift | Pier, will | Pedaling from Pollution | Greeley Central High School | Shelley Welch |
| Honorable mention | Gift | Emily, Claire, Brookelyn | From Scraps to Scrumptious | Fort Morgan High School | Mary Annaba Yangzon |
| Splash of Inspiration Challenge | Gift | Mrs.Flores’s 3rd Grade Class | Keep Water Clean, Keep Water Safe | Winograd K-8 | Kaitlin Flores |
2023 Final Results
Thank you to all of the students who participated in this contest. Over 245 entries were received!
The $1,000 first place prize was awarded to Natalie from Rocky Mountain High School for her proposal called, “Water: It’s Worth a Dam!”
| GRADES 9 – 12 | ||||
| Final Place | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Natalie | Water: It’s Worth a Dam! | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 2 | $900 | Sadie | Do Something Sweet for the Environment | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 3 | $800 | Peyton | How Dog Waste Stations will Improve Our Watershed | Roosevelt HS |
| 4 | $700 | Anya and Taryn | Northern Redbelly Dace Conservation | Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools |
| 5 | $600 | Callen | The Hole Picture | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 6 | $500 | Mackenzie and Ryan Lee | Shed ED | Resurrection Christian HS |
| 7 | $450 | Ella and Reagan | Helping our Watershed One Bioreactor at a Time | Resurrection Christian HS |
| 8 | $400 | Alexa and Jonathan | Reducing Litter and Trash in School Parking Lot | Roosevelt HS |
| 9 | $350 | Isabella and Nera | Follow the litter | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 10 | $300 | Lilian | Powering The World, One Step At A Time | Roosevelt HS |
| Runner-up | $100 | Ian and Ibrahim | Grow your own paints! | Rocky Mountain HS |
| Runner-up | $100 | Lida | Thrifty tote bags | Greeley West HS |
| Runner-up | $100 | Haylie and Zoe | Our environment is in danger but we have an un-BEE-leivable solution | Rocky Mountain HS |
| Runner-up | $100 | Olivia | Why we need green cleaning | Berthoud HS |
| Runner-up | $100 | Xavier, Ohzetnah, Juan, and Austin | Bat Boxes | Greeley Central HS |
| Honorable Mention | Gift | Oscar | Cleaning up Irrigation Canal Next to My House | Fort Collins HS |
2022 Final Results
Thank you to all of the students who participated in this contest. Over 280 entries were received.
The $1,000 first place prize was awarded to Joshua and Wilson from Rocky Mountain High School for their proposal called, “Mama Otter Saves the Day.”
| Final Place | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Joshua, Wilson | Mama Otter Saves The Day | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 2 | $900 | Miles | Can Soil Really Damage Our Economy? | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 3 | $800 | Elijah, Jack, Jacob, Malachi | Sustainable Rain Garden | Dayspring Christian Academy |
| 4 | $700 | Jack | Protecting the Sherwood Straight | Fort Collins HS |
| 5 | $600 | Sayre, Sophia | Splish Splash Education Time! | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 6 | $500 | Corrin, Karrin, Kylie | Aluminum Recycling Program | Dayspring Christian Academy |
| 7 | $450 | Evelyn, Sadie | There’s No Plan Bee | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 8 | $400 | Jake | To FLY you must eat first! | Rocky Mountain HS |
| 9 | $350 | Lana, Mariah | Think Before You Throw It Out | Union Colony Prep |
| 10 | $300 | Chloe | Art the Smart Way | Rocky Mountain HS |
| Runner-up | $100 | Gabriella, Joselly | Pollinator Planters | Greeley West High School |
| Runner-up | $100 | Rylan | Saving our watershed and decreasing inequality, one fork at a time. | Rocky Mountain HS |
| Honorable Mention (implementing) | Gift | Anayeli | Dreaming in Purple | Greeley West High School |
| Honorable Mention (implementing) | Gift | Nihit | Educate the People! | Greeley West High School |
| Honorable Mention (implementing) | Gift | Cassidy, Maerron, Olivia | The Problem with Menstrual Waste | Roosevelt HS |
| Honorable Mention (implementing) | Gift | Austin, Arthur
Edward, Talon |
Educating Peers on Environmentally Responsible Vehicle Maintenance | Dayspring Christian Academy |
| Honorable Mention | Gift | Deisy | GUM BIN PROJECT | Greeley Central High School |
| Honorable Mention | Gift | Brady, Danny, Joshua, Kamden | Tire Pressure in Relation to Emissions | Resurrection High School |
2021 Final Results
Thank you to all of the students who participated in this contest. Over 200 entries were received.
The $1,000 first place prize was awarded to Saria from Greeley Central High School for her proposal called, “Bracelets for Bats.”
| GRADES 9-12 | ||||
| Final Place | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Saria | Bracelets for Bats | Greeley Central HS |
| 2 | $900 | Kimberly | Our Blooming Watershed | Greeley Central HS |
| 3 | $800 | Juan | Education for Younger Generations | Northridge HS |
| 4 | $700 | Emma | #WaterShedWash | Fort Collins HS |
| 5 | $600 | Brookelynn | Mother Native | Greeley West HS |
| 6 | $500 | Pamela | The Panda’s Choice | Northridge HS |
| 7 | $450 | Yaritza | Cutlery Can be Decomposable? | Northridge HS |
2020 Final Results
Thank you to all of the students who participated in this contest. Over 450 entries were received.
| GRADES 9 – 12 | ||||
| Placement | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| Finalist | $600 | Erik | Reusable Bags | Northridge High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Gwen | Children’s Book About the Danger of Plastic | Fort Collins High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Hope | Operation Pollinator | Roosevelt High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Jeb | Building a Poudre Watershed Board Game | Greeley West High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Jorge | Replacing Sinks will Preserve our Watershed | Greeley Central High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Karina | EDUCATE! | Northridge High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Nathaniel | Don’t let the water run in the sink | Northridge High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Rachel | Reel ‘Em In and Clean ‘Em Up | Northridge High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Tod | Plastic Saver | Northridge High School |
| Finalist | $600 | Kelsey | Efficient Water Practices and Appliances Campaign | Mountain View |
| Honorable Mention | $40 Gift Card | Cadence | Think Before You Throw It Out | Union Colony Preparatory School |
| Honorable Mention | $40 Gift Card | Ryan | Don’t Waste your Waste | Fossil Ridge High School |
2019 Final Results
The final presentations were held at the Poudre Learning Center on May 10, 2019.
| Final Place | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Emma, Rachel | Got Bags? | Greeley Central HS |
| 2 | $900 | Daniel, Elian | Fish Pets Help Prevent Upset Species | Northridge HS |
| 3 | $800 | Alexandria | Poopy Problems | Greeley Central HS |
| 4 | $700 | Jessica | Small, Green, and Mean | Union Colony Prep |
| 5 | $600 | Eliana | Let’s Stop Sitting on the Issue, and Sit on the Solution | Greeley Central HS |
| 6 | $500 | Sergio, Daniel | For Your Tires | Northridge HS |
| 7 | $450 | Jack | String Quartet in B♭ | Greeley Central HS |
| 8 | $400 | Gabriela, Madison, Jack, David | Energy Saving Campaign | Fossil Ridge HS |
| 9 | $350 | Branden, Trey | Water Tolerance 101 | Fort Collins HS |
| 10 | $300 | Carson, Nik, Jaron, Jeremy | Abstract Awareness painting | Mountain View HS |
2018 Final Results
The final presentations were held at the University of Northern Colorado on May 11, 2018.
| Final Place | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Grace | Earth, we are on the Last Straw | Greeley Central High School |
| 2 | $900 | Gianna | Lead with LED | Greeley Central High School |
| 3 | $800 | Abby, Fernanda, Cole | Recycling Signs | Fossil Ridge High School |
| 4 | $700 | Brecken, William, Regan | Water Down The Drain | Roosevelt High School |
| 5 | $600 | S. Greta | The Bees Knees | Greeley Central High School |
| 6 | $500 | Meghan, Riley, Kelden | Bee Gardens To Promote The Growth of Our Watersheds | Berthoud High School |
| 7 | $450 | Hanna | Use Every Last Drop | Northridge High School |
| 8 | $400 | Haley | Lighting the Way to a Better “Watts”-ershed | Union Colony Preparatory School |
| 9 | $350 | Tori, Tyler, Samantha, Everett | The Energizer Bunny Recycles Too | Berthoud High School |
| 10 | $300 | Reece, Miles | Recycling the Broken Technology of Yesterday | Fossil Ridge High School |
2017 Final Results
The final presentations were held at the University of Northern Colorado on May 12, 2017.
| Project Name | Name | School Name | Final Placement | Cash Award |
| Lunch Waste | Mazlyn | Greeley Central High School | 1 | $1,000 |
| Trash or Treasure | Inidgo | Greeley Central High School | 2 | $900 |
| Smarter Sprinkler | Cam, Patrick, Tyler | Roosevelt High School | 3 | $800 |
| One Paint Can at a Time | Erin, Keana | Roosevelt High School | 4 | $700 |
| Pollinators | Aubrey, Monica | Union Colony Preparatory School | 5 | $600 |
| Bee a Positive Change | Brooklyn | Northridge High School | 6 | $500 |
| What’s the Buzz | Delaney, Emma | Berthoud High School | 7 | $450 |
| 10 Years of Pollution | Kristopher, Thomas Blake, Dalton | Roosevelt High School | 8 | $400 |
| Batting Bugs Naturally | Devyn | Roosevelt High School | 9 | $350 |
| Phyte Club | Dustin, Alexandria | Greeley Central High School | 10 | $300 |
| Project Name | Student(s) Names | School | Placement | Award |
| Don’t be Cruel, Recycle at School | Kayla, Mattea, Aubrey | Roosevelt High School | Thalweg | $100 |
| Protect Our Pollinators | Riley | Greeley Central High School | Thalweg | $100 |
| Rain Away | Emma | Berthoud High School | Thalweg | $100 |
2016 Final Results
The final presentations were at the University of Northern Colorado on May 13, 2016.
| GRADES 9-12 | ||||
| Final Place | Award | Student Name(s) | Proposal Name | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Emily | Riparian Restoration | Berthoud High School |
| 2 | $900 | Gabrielle, Renee | No More Trash Talking | Berthoud High School |
| 3 | $800 | Madeleine, Reina, Lindy | Destination Conservation | Greeley Central High School |
| 4 | $700 | Jasmine, Annabelle | Hazardous Households: Is yours one? | Union Colony Preparatory School |
| 5 | $600 | J.C. | Of Gardens and Guys | Greeley Central High School |
| 6 | $500 | Kendra | Bees: Small but Mighty | Greeley Central High School |
| 7 | $450 | Luis, Edward | Electric hand Dryers and Waste Management | Northridge High School |
| 8 | $400 | Roberto | Aeration Conservation | Greeley Central High School |
| 9 | $350 | Ben, Mailey | Collecting Clothes for a Cause | Northridge High School |
| 10 | $300 | Madelyn, Em | Peer Pressure Keeps a Dock Afloat | Greeley Central High School |
2015 Final Results
The final presentations were at the University of Northern Colorado on May 15, 2015.
| Final Placement | Award | Student(s) | Proposal | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Jeremy | GUSTO-MATIC 5280-X | Greeley Central High School |
| 2 | $900 | Jacy & Sara | Quitting the Bottle | Berthoud High School |
| 3 | $800 | Ari, Ana & Caleb | Using Bats to Stop Bugging the Poudre | Greeley Central High School |
| 4 | $700 | Brenna & Jack | Environmentally Friendly Household Cleaners | Union Colony Preparatory School |
| 5 | $600 | Chelsea & Leathia | Shotgun Shell Recycling | Union Colony Preparatory School |
| 6 | $500 | Esmeralda, Valerie & Efren | Education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world | Greeley Central High School |
| 7 | $450 | Annika | Misdeed of the Microbead | Greeley Central High School |
| 8 | $400 | Haylee & Emelie | Beautiful Gardens of Hope | Greeley Central high School |
| 9 | $350 | Nicholas & Holly | Beautiful Bee Box | Berthoud High School |
| 10 | $300 | Anna, Payton & Jenna | Lights on Lights off | Berthoud High School |
2014 Final Results
The final presentations were at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO on May 2, 2014.
| Final Placement | Award | Student(s) | Proposal | School |
| 1 | $1,000 | Danielle & Manny | The Plastic Bag Pandemic | Northridge |
| 2 | $900 | Emiloy | Bright Lights, Not So Bright Future | Greeley Central |
| 3 | $800 | Kyle & Carlie | Benefits of Bats to our Watershed | Berthoud |
| 4 | $700 | Katrina | Energizing Sustainable Solutions | Northridge |
| 5 | $600 | Amanda | Garden of Knowledge | Union Colony Prep |
| 6 | $500 | Marlee, Rachel & Sydney | For the Greener Good | Northridge |
| 7 | $450 | Ryan, Colton & Teddy | Fishing Line: The Invisible Killer | Union Colony Prep |
| 8 | $400 | Sarah, Jeremy & Bailey | Showertimers: First Step To Resourceful water Usage | Northridge |
| 9 | $350 | Cassidy, Jay & Jared | Caring Abot Our Watershed Education Program | Northridge |
| 10 | $300 | Nancy | Reducing Waste with TerraCycle | Northridge |
2013 Final Results
The final presentations were at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO on February 22, 2013.
Hannah Meyers
| THALWEG AWARDS* | ||
| Air to Save the Day | Francisco Ricardo & Rachel |
Liz Mock-Murphy Greeley Central |
| Importance Of Buying And Growing Produce Locally | Meagan Cindy & Erin |
Heidi Lanning & Brittney Wright Eaton |
| Sanitizer Solution | Nathan Austin |
Kristal Domenico Berthoud |
| Shower Heads Saving the Watershed | David | Zach Armstrong Greeley West |
* Thalweg – the line of deepest and fastest flow, marking the natural direction of a river.
The 4 student Thalweg Award proposals were judged as some of the best proposals that did not make it into the final 10 projects for oral competition. These students will create a poster of their proposal to be displayed at the banquet. In addition, they will receive funds to implement their projects.