Westminster, MD, Thursday, October 9, 2025 – The Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council (EAC)  is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Environmental Action Awards (EAA). Presented every other year, the EAAs honor nominated individuals and groups for outstanding projects that benefit the environment and provide lasting value to the community. This year’s awards highlighted three categories: The Student Engagement Award, The Positive Practices Award, and The Educational Outreach Award.

The Student Engagement Award goes to Charlotte Grepps, Sarah Carpenter, and Tainne Buchler for their Town of Sykesville Resident Composting Pilot Program.  Their project aimed to educate residents, provide tools for composting, and foster long-term behavioral change.  Tainne, Sarah, and Charlotte will jointly be awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Spot-On Engineering Solutions, Inc. 

Honorable Mentions go to Colin Flanagan for his work with Trout in the Classroom at Century High School and Avery House for organizing and leading a trash clean-up that spanned three school campuses in Westminster.

This year’s winner of the Positive Practices Award is the Carroll Lutheran Village Green Team for actions taken to promote eco-friendly practices and partnership with CLV’s management and staff to create a “greener” campus.

Sydney Lyle receives the Educational Outreach Award for her leadership role in improving the recycling program at Friendship Valley Elementary and associated educational efforts to promote it.

Each winning group/individual will be awarded a gift basket valued at approximately $300 from Sun Nurseries, a gift basket valued at $50 from JeannieBird Baking Company, and a gift card valued at $50 from Local Homestead Products.

The winners will receive their awards at the 2025 Carroll EnviroFest on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Click here to read more about the awards.

The EnviroFest is free and open to the public and will be held at the Robert Moton Center at 300 South Center Street in Westminster from 9 AM to 12 PM.  Visit the county website for detailed information about the Carroll EnviroFest.