Published: July 02, 2009 08:16 pm      

Keystone students travel to Washington, D.C.

EDMOND — Students at Keystone Adventure School and Farm were recently recognized in Washington, D.C.

The students received the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 Presidential Environmental Youth Award.

Students learned of a need at a school for orphans in Mae Scott, Thailand. Keystone students said they would like to raise money for the Thai school to be able to supplement the children’s diet of white rice.

Upon learning of the need, Keystone students opened the Keystone Kids Cafe and raised $1,800 to help lease land and raise vegetables for the Burmese Orphans.

Keystone was represented in Washington, D.C., by 15 students including seventh-grader Terri Graham; sixth-graders Josh Deming, Jake Ewing and Caleb Houk; fifth-graders Davis Perri, Shanti Rood, Belle Sears and Jarod Sorum; fourth-grader Daniel Millican; third-graders Sara Houk, Luke Neafus and Karson Trent; and second-graders London Faulkner, Casi Kerr and Giavanna.

The students traveled with the school’s directors Jenny Dunning, John Duhon and Risa McKinney as well as Fenton Rood and Kathy Perri.

“It was fun getting the award,” Shanti said. “We received it from the EPA president and that was interesting.”

Shanti said she thinks it is important to help the orphans because they don’t have parents. “It is going to them so they can rent land for their gardens. They have already planted the garden, and the vegetables are already growing.”

Casi added it is important for the children to get the food they need.

Shanti and Casi both liked the Smithsonian Museum and sightseeing.

“We saw the President Lincoln statue and it was humongous,” Shanti said. “We also saw the Washington Monument and it was very interesting.”

Casi said she was a little disappointed they did not get to meet President Barack Obama, but they did get to meet a lady (Administrator Lisa Jackson) from the Environmental Protection Agency.

President Obama was called out of town and a representative from the EPA presented the students with their award.

“They were slightly bummed at first,” said Keystone employee Donna Mackiewicz, “but when they all talked about it after they got back to school they all decided President Obama not coming was actually better.

“The reason they raised the money was not to meet the president, but because they try to always do the right thing, and service was the right thing. They are proud to have been recognized and are continuing to support the Thai school.”

Chaperone Fenton Rood said he was impressed with the group experience and how much the students learned. “I was also impressed with how well-behaved the students were. It was a great group bonding experience and I think they will remember this trip for the rest of their lives.”

Duhon said on the Capitol tour the students met someone from Sen. Jim Inhofe’s office, and Sen. Mary Fallin read the students’ award into the Congressional Record. They went home with a copy of the Congressional Record.

He said the children talked about the award and meeting the president and the fact that those two things were just pats on the back for a job well done.

“We talked with the children about why we did it,” Duhon said. “It is important because it is the right thing to do. They are just great kids. Good people with kind, generous hearts.”