A group of Pottsville middle school students who successfully petitioned the city to legalize the planting of milkweed has received the 2026 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
Students from D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, accompanied by fifth-grade teacher Leah Zerbe, accepted the award on June 25 during a ceremony at the Harrisburg Hilton. The Pottsville initiative was one of 26 projects recognized statewide by the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC).
Twenty students traveled to the Harrisburg ceremony to accept the award. The student delegation included Annabella Cardinal, Kendrick Childs, Etsio Cicero, Mia Davis, Abrahim Diaz, Anthony Encarnacion-Ryan, Abigail Fallon, Lillian Griffin, Karley Kaufman, Karter Kaufman, Jackelyn Lema, Kumora Levan, Zaid McShaw, Keefer Michael, Scarlett Morrison, Jimonte Murphy, Kayla Murphy, Alex Negron, Jake Powers, and TJ Ramble Jr.
The students were accompanied by Zerbe and D.H.H. Lengel teachers Jamie Dawson, Gregory Hoak, and Carolyn Wasilewski.
Travel to the state Capitol, as well as the district’s broader pollinator garden initiative, was financed through a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant and an additional grant from The Crimson Tide Foundation.
The students were honored for their civic and environmental advocacy, which began in late 2024. After learning that a 1966 city ordinance classified milkweed as a noxious weed and banned its growth, the class researched the plant’s critical role as the sole host for monarch butterfly caterpillars. They presented their findings to the Pottsville City Council, and in March 2025, the council voted unanimously to amend the ordinance to allow the plant based on Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture standards.
“This award recognizes far more than a garden or a science project,” Zerbe says. “It honors students who discovered that their voices matter and that young people can create meaningful environmental change in their community.”
The trip to Harrisburg included students who advocated for the milkweed ordinance change, alongside other students active in the school’s gardening project. Before the ceremony, the group toured the Capitol building and met with state Rep. Tim Twardzik and Sen. David Argall.
Funding for both the initial pollinator garden project and the resulting milkweed advocacy campaign came through a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant.
“Watching these students present their ideas to local leaders and see real change happen has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my teaching career,” Zerbe said. “Students learned that science and citizenship can work hand in hand to solve real-world problems and that meaningful environmental change can begin with a simple question and a willingness to take action.”
State officials highlighted the statewide impact of local initiatives during the awards presentation, which also recognized projects focused on air quality monitoring, mine drainage treatment, and watershed restoration.
DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley said the recognized projects demonstrate the power of local engagement.
“The Environmental Excellence honorees embody the innovation, collaboration, and commitment that are helping protect Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water while shaping a more sustainable future for the Commonwealth,” Shirley said. “These projects show what’s possible when local organizations, schools, businesses, and volunteers come together to solve environmental challenges and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.”
PEC President Tom Gilbert echoed those sentiments, noting the cumulative effect of the awardees’ efforts.
“From watershed restoration and tree plantings to advancements in recycling and sustainability, these businesses, organizations and individuals are making Pennsylvania a better and greener place to live, work and play,” Gilbert said.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Pottsville Middle School Students Successfully Petition City Hall to Lift Ban on Milkweed
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