SJA Wins Prestigious Conservation Award

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome commended St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge for “leading the charge” in protecting the environment when she proclaimed Nov. 3 as St. Joseph’s Academy Day in East Baton Rouge Civil Parish for the school winning a national mayor’s water conservation challenge.

The city of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Civil Parish partnered with Wyland Foundation in April in a Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conversation competition. Mayors promoted the challenge to raise awareness of using water more efficiently, reducing pollution and conserving energy.

Local students and schools competed to be named the most waterwise school in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to the mayor’s office.

There were 8,299 pledges from students and classrooms in Baton Rouge to reduce their consumption of water by a total of 40,554,418 gallons during the next year.

This past spring, SJA students and teachers pledged to make good choices in their daily lives, at home, in their yards and in their communities to conserve natural resources. The science department and teacher Aimee Cronan spearheaded the effort. SJA won the competition by having the greatest number of participating classrooms and students pledging to conserve water.

Broome presented a proclamation declaring Nov. 3 at SJA with faculty, staff and representatives of the science classes on hand.

“I find that when we get students involved in helping to protect our environment, whether it’s water management, recycling … parents kind of get connected ‘to the vibe,’ if you will,” Broome said. “The future of Baton Rouge depends on how well we steward the resources that we have here in our city.”

SJA principal Stacia Andricain said the school’s mission is to educate young women as responsible and unifying members of the world community. 

“Part of that education includes recognizing that we must all have a part in caring for our earth and precious resources and how decisions we make today will impact our global world,” said Andricain.  “Making a small commitment to conserve can have a big impact and our students have pledged to do that.  We are appreciative of the efforts of the mayor and her staff in challenging schools to be a part of the solution.”