Climate Solutions Initiative Lays Ground for Sustainable Future at Summit Christian Academy in Austin
Summit Christian Academy, located in the heart of Cedar Park in Austin, Texas, is actively spreading awareness and stimulating change in regards to the pressing issues of climate change and environmental degradation. A vibrant educational landscape, the academy is leaping towards a sustainable future through student-led climate solution projects.
The green dream began in Melissa Tapperson’s Environmental Studies class, a transformative forum where students work together to plan and execute projects aimed at cultivating a sustainable campus. With a vision to “graduate empowered leaders who impact the world,” the academy is stepping up to develop dynamic and innovative environment-friendly solutions.
Igniting the Flame of Change
In Melissa Tapperson’s class, students from eleventh and twelfth grade transform from regular teenagers to pioneering climate activists. Here, they pen down their dreams in the form of project blueprints, and turn them into reality with the support of the academy and external funding organizations like the Bright Green Future Grants program.
Ms. Tapperson believes, “The Earth is ours to steward in a sustainable manner. Our students understand this, and their dream walks reflect their desire to translate this understanding into action.“
Projects that Make a Difference
Last academic year, Summit Christian Academy’s green leaders manifested two climate solution dreams into reality. The first project was the development of an outdoor classroom, and the second entailed installing rain barrels for watering the campus’s garden.
“The outdoor classroom has added a valuable dimension to our learning. And the rain barrels will ensure that our plants always have access to water even when the summer sun is scorching,” shares twelfth-grader Savannah.
Building a Sustainable Legacy
These student-initiated projects are not transient experiments but long-term solutions, etching a green legacy into the DNA of Summit Christian Academy’s campus. They serve as a green hallmark that other schools will hopefully imitate and further innovate.
“The Green Grants have done much more than fund our projects. They have inspired our student body to believe in their ability to tackle climate change. We are proud and grateful for their contribution,” comments Ms. Tapperson.
As we journey into the future, schools like Summit Christian Academy are illuminating the path with their sustainable initiatives. While the efforts of these students may not single-handedly reverse the effects of climate change, they are empowering the youth to tackle such issues with courage, conviction and creativity and that in itself is a ray of hope we can all bask in.
