Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon

Four Hutchinson High School seniors hope to leave their school greener than they found it.

Tara Russell, Winston Yellick, Ryan Madson and Ethan Smith have volunteered on the school’s carbon emission-cutting task force since January. The first round of their ideas for shrinking the school’s carbon footprint will soon bear fruit.

In about a month’s time, they hope to sell trees to be planted either at students’ homes or at the school. The proceeds will be reinvested in further carbon-cutting efforts, such as creating more recycling awareness.

What’s got them fired up about cutting carbon? For each team member, the answer is different. Russell said her family has long been practicing environmental consciousness. Yellick said he’s frustrated when he sees the school’s recycling program not implemented properly, while Madson said, “It’s kind of obvious to me that it’s the right thing to do.”

Smith’s assessment is even more blunt: “I’m more a professional outdoors person, so for me, it’s more about not killing the environment.”