WEST COVINA, CA – Nearly 60 Mt. SAC Early College Academy freshmen dazzled parents and educators with passionate presentations on ecofriendly burials, invasive species, light pollution and fast fashion during the Academy’s first-ever Environmental Issues Fair on March 15.

The fair capped the Academy’s first major interdisciplinary project, in which students engaged in three months of intense research and cross-curricular assignments to create exhibits, art projects made of recycled materials, brochures and public service announcements.

“I used to have a bit of stage fright, so the presentation aspect of this project really challenged me,” freshman Zoe Burrola said. “I feel much more confident in my public speaking abilities now and really proud of the work our group did.”

Students presented their group projects – 15 in total – for grading earlier in the week and then presented them for parents and a panel of Academy and Mt. SAC administrators.

Mt. SAC Early College Academy, a dual-enrollment public high school, provides students with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of transferrable college credit simultaneously. Principal Candace Leuthold said the school also aims to prepare students for college by building research, analysis, presentation and collaboration skills.

Students are eligible to enter their projects into the 2019-20 Mt. SAC Presidential Student Environmental Sustainability Awards and compete with college students for a $500 prize.

The Academy is accepting 2019-20 applications for sophomores and freshmen. High schoolers from Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties are eligible to apply.

[PHOTOS] WCUSD_MECA1, WCUSD_MECA2: Mt. SAC Early College Academy students presented research on plastic waste, carbon emissions and more during the Academy’s Environmental Issues Fair on March 15.