2023-2024 Fairchild Challenge Awards Announced!

By Alyssa Mulé, High School Programs Coordinator

Congratulations to all our 2023 - 2024 Fairchild Challenge participants! This year brought in many extraordinary entries. Through this year’s challenges, you have learned about conservation by designing beetle ornaments made from recycled materials, designed climate justice murals and learned about the conservation practices of indigenous communities, conducted meaningful interview about climate change through media, created fun habitat handbooks, explored the world of night-blooming plants, produced stunning works of art with vibrant colors and unqiue persepctives, studied Pennsylvania's native plants, and constructed incredibly original sea creature sculptures! You all displayed a wealth of curiosity, creativity, and dedication. You have inspired and motivated those in your homes, schools and communities by being change-makers for the environment. We are honored to have been a part of your journey this year. Keep up the great work!

To our students – while our society may face many environmental challenges, seeing all your thoughtful, innovative, and bright young minds at work reassures us that we will find creative solutions to our world’s most pressing problems. You remind us that there are no small ideas and that individuals can and will make a difference by committing to actions that better our world and in doing so, empower others to do the same. You are creating new paths to environmental change with your ideas, enthusiasm and dedication to a more sustainable future. We wish you all a great summer, and we look forward to all of your future accomplishments!

And to our teachers— thank you for your hard work, willingness to take on extra responsibilities, and boundless dedication to your students. Whether this is your first year or one of many, the Fairchild Challenge would not be possible without devoted educators like yourselves who implement these challenges and empower and inspire our young people. You are extraordinary!

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 Fairchild Challenge Winners:
Middle School

First Place: Penn-Trafford Middle School 

Second Place: Dickson STEAM Academy 

Third Place: Archangel Gabriel Catholic School, Marshall Middle School, Keystone Oaks Middle School

High School

First Place: Shaler Area High School

Second Place: Woodland Hills High School

Third Place: Penn-Trafford High School, Mars Area High School, West Mifflin Area High School

Congratulations to all of the winners! We hope all of you will continue to think about how our actions affect the planet. Have questions? Contact Alyssa Mulé at amule@phipps.conservatory.org or 412/622-6915, ext. 3905.

Developed by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Fl., and adopted by Phipps as a satellite partner in 2008, The Fairchild Challenge offers a menu of interdisciplinary challenges for grades 6 – 8 and grades 9 – 12, attracting students of diverse interests, abilities, talents and backgrounds. The Challenge empowers young people to engage in civic life and encourages them to become energetic and knowledgeable members of their communities