A team of environmentally-conscious students are taking steps to improve their community as they work toward winning tens of thousands of dollars.

Profectus, a group of six students from Olympus Junior High School in Holladay, spent hours clearing an invasive weed known as the “puncture vine” from trails along Jordan River Parkway as part of their involvement in the Lexus Eco Challenge – a national contest that encourages students to develop and implement environmental programs.

“The project will create a higher oxygen level around the parkway by abating the amount of dead plant debris,” said Olympus Junior science teacher and team mentor JoAnne Brown.

The group invited the community to help them spruce up the parkway during the project window. Additionally, several organizational sponsors stepped in to provide food, drinks and prizes for participants.

Olympus Junior High School students have won more than $270,000 with their environmental service projects in the Lexus Eco Challenge over the past six years.