Deadline: 11-Jan-23
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications for its President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) to promote awareness of the nation’s natural resources and encourage positive community involvement.
Each year the PEYA program honors a wide variety of projects developed by young students, school classes and clubs, youth camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental awareness and action in schools and communities. Thousands of young people from all 50 states and the US territories have submitted projects to EPA for consideration. Winning projects in the past have demonstrated impact in schools and communities in a wide range of subject areas. Participation in the PEYA program is frequently a life-changing experience for many of the young people and their project sponsors.
How the Program Works
- PEYA applicants compete in two award categories—Grades K-5 and Grades 6-12—each with distinct evaluation criteria.
- The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ten regional offices across the country. Each regional office will be responsible for selecting up to one winner in each age group, based on the evaluation criteria in Section 6. Applicants are welcome to include youth across multiple grade levels; however, the application will be categorized based on the applicant with the highest grade level. For example, if one applicant group consists of two 4th graders, one 3rd grader and one 6th grader, the application will be evaluated in the Grade 6-12 category.
- Each award-winning project will receive a Presidential plaque. The sponsors of all qualified, non-winning applicants will receive EPA acknowledgment of the applicant’s efforts to protect human health and the environment.
Eligibility Criteria
- Project is completed while the applicant(s) is in kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Applicant(s) is a citizen of the United States or its territories or has been lawfully admitted for permanent residency. Applicant also resides in a US state, territory, or tribal land.
- Project is sponsored by at least one adult 21 years of age or older.
- Project started during the 2022 calendar year and had activity during the 2022 calendar year. A project initiated prior to 2022 is also eligible for consideration as long as the project had activity during the 2022 calendar year.
- Project must include an environmental stewardship component as defined.
For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-youth-award