Congratulations 2020-2021 Fairchild Challenge Participants!

By Jennifer Torrance, Science Education Coordinator

Congratulations to all of our 2020 - 2021 Fairchild Challenge participants! This year brought in many fantastic entries. Through this year’s challenges, you have created incredible collages from repurposed textiles, drew creative and informative comic strips, collected data to learn more about urban birds, discovered intriguing hibernation and brumation patterns, designed innovative gardens to meet various community needs, made trading cards to celebrate plant scientists from diverse backgrounds, and created passion-driven action projects on environmental justice topics! 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. You even completed all of these remarkable projects during a very challenging and unusual year. We are honored to have been a part of your journey this year. Keep up the great work!

To our students - our society may face many environmental obstacles, but seeing all your active young minds reassures us that we will find creative solutions to our world’s most pressing problems. You remind us that individuals can and will make a difference by committing to actions that better our world and by empowering others to do the same.  You are building bridges 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. The Fairchild Challenge would not be possible without the devoted educators who implement these challenges and empower and inspire our young people. We especially want to thank you for being adaptable this year, as the Phipps Fairchild Challenge took place virtually for its first full year. You are incredible!

Take a look at the accomplishments of the students this year:

Middle School Award Ceremony Presentation

High School Award Ceremony Presentation

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 Jennifer Torrance at jtorrance@phipps.conservatory.org or 412/622-6915, ext. 3230.

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.