Kansas Student Awarded President’s Environmental Youth Award
Olathe project gains national recognition
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 17, 2025) – Yesterday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy presented a President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) to high school student Archer Grier for his 2024 sustainable fish-breeding project at Cedar Lake in Olathe, Kansas.
The award ceremony was held at the regional office in Lenexa, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Fisheries Biologist Zach Ramsay, who sponsored the winning project, joined the presentation.
“Archer’s successful project showed dedication to improving his local environment through science, innovation, and teamwork — and that’s an accomplishment worth celebrating,” said Regional Administrator Macy. “President’s Environmental Youth Award winners are role models and problem solvers that lead the way for youth stewardship of our land. I am proud to present this national award to Archer. Congratulations on a job well-done!”
A love of bass fishing inspired Archer to seek out a sustainable fisheries project. After learning of a fish kill at Cedar Lake, he teamed up with biologists at KDWP and local scouts to address the issue. Archer designed, constructed, and deployed a sustainable fish-breeding cube made from repurposed PVC pipe and drainage tubing, mobilizing others to join in the project. His efforts revitalized the lake’s aquatic ecosystem and sparked community interest in angling.
Read more about Archer’s PEYA project and current and past PEYA winners.
EPA Now Accepting Student and Teacher Award Applications!
EPA is seeking applications for PEYA and the Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). Applications for both awards are due no later than Monday, December 1, 2025.
Projects should align with only one or more of the focus areas: agricultural practices; artificial intelligence; food waste; recycling; school gardens or green space (playground, park or other community space); use science, data analysis or other creative approaches; water infrastructure; and water quality and/or litter within waterways.
For PEYA, application and eligibility information is available on EPA’s PEYA webpage.
For PIAEE, Application and eligibility information is available on EPA’s PIAEE webpage.
Background
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, EPA wants to celebrate students and teachers who are making a positive impact to promote environmental awareness to forge American greatness for the next 250 years.
The 1990 National Environmental Education Act established PEYA, which recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects from students in Grades K-12 that protect our nation’s natural resources. The act also established PIAEE, which recognizes outstanding Grade K-12 educators who use environmental education as a learning tool to excite students and communities about protecting human health and the environment.
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