Saturday, March 22, 2025
BELOIT – The St. John’s Catholic School competed at the 2024 National Envirothon, held from July 28 to August 3 in Geneva, New York, and spoke about their experience during the Mitchell County Soil Conservation Banquet on Jan. 26, in Beloit. They provided many thank you’s to the Mitchell County District in helping them to attend this event.
The prestigious environmental competition brought together top students from across the country and world to test their knowledge and problem-solving skills in the areas of ecology, environmental science, and natural resource management.
The St. John’s team, which consisted of five dedicated students; Senior Emma Mick, Juniors Nicholas Niewald, Henry Holdren, and Jonas Letourneau, and Freshman Canaan Letourneau, competed against 56 other teams from various states, China, Singapore, and several Canadian provinces. After months of preparation and study, they demonstrated exceptional teamwork and knowledge in the competition’s five core subjects: soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, and the current environmental issue—“Adapting to Climate Change: Natural Resource Management in a Changing Climate.”
"We are incredibly proud of our students," said Mr. Joe Holdren, the team’s advisor. "They worked hard to prepare, spending time in each area to prepare and be able to compete at such a high level was a great achievement. I am thankful to The Mitchell County Conservation district, Kansas Envirothon, and the Sisters of St. Joseph for being major sponsors in getting us to the competition.
The competition took place in the scenic Finger Lakes region, where the students faced a series of written exams, practical field tests, and a major presentation. While the team did not secure a top spot in the overall standings, their performance was a testament to their hard work and commitment to environmental stewardship.
The St. John’s team’s journey to the National Envirothon began with winning the Kansas state competition earlier in the spring, earning them a spot at the national level. Their experience at the event allowed them to engage with like-minded peers and environmental professionals, broadening their understanding of the importance of conservation issues and fostering a deepened sense of responsibility and stewardship for our lands and resources.
“Envirothon was a really good experience, we learned so much about not just what can go wrong with the environment, but how we can positively impact it”, said senior Henry Holdren. He, Canaan Letourneau and Nicholas Niewald all agreed that their highlight was visiting Niagara Falls and meeting members of other state teams. The 2024 National Envirothon served as a reminder of the importance of environmental education and the role young people play in shaping the future of our planet.
St. John’s Catholic School is proud to have represented Beloit, Mitchell County, and Kansas on the national stage and look forward to working in effort to make it back for another chance to compete. This year’s national competition will be held in Alberta, Canada.
