Jessica Seller’s fifth grade class at Westbrook Elementary was one of two student groups who were named winners in the 2014 Polar Bear Challenge – an annual competition where students develop projects to help preserve the environment.

The class calculated their carbon footprint reduction as they walked and biked to school instead of coming in a car throughout the school year.

The Westbrook students received t-shirts, tickets to the Zoo, books, and a visit from some ambassador animals for their winning project.

In a letter addressed to Mrs. Sellers, Hogle Zoo Education Curator Christine Schmitz noted that the students’ project went beyond the confines of the classroom to help the environment.

“They not only worked with their classmates to make the planet a better place within their classroom, but also involved other classes in their school as well as their families and community.”