Charleston High School goes green

Jasmine Benton is just one of several dozen West Ashley High School students who use every opportunity they get to spread knowledge about saving the environment.
“We are trying to inform the community how important it is to keep up with the environment and how it affects us,“ said Benton.
West Ashley teacher Margaret Spigner is the facilitator for a group called the W.A.T.E.R. Wildcat’s, short for the West Ashley team of environmental researchers.
“They have been working for years on environmental issues and projects to improve the habitat for animals and plants and wildlife around the school and the campus,“ explained Spigner.
The students have worked to get a greenspace buffer around the perimeter of the campus. That includes a walking trail that provides habitat for plants and animals and improves storm water runoff.
These students even have access to wetlands on campus where students are getting a first hand experience with our ecosystem.
“In the wetlands, the boardwalk allows us a good chance to look at other species. That’s how we noticed our pond berry species that was endangered and how we reintroduced it,“ said Benton.
From reintroducing endangered species to a campus wide recycling drive, these students at West Ashley are determined to make a difference both inside the building and out.
“We’re trying to inspire other students to see the way we see them and just be interested in what we are doing because its their lives too,“ explained Benton.
“Seeing them so excited and interested in a project about storm water runoff and collecting trash and things of that sort, I have real positive feelings for our future,“ said a happy Spigner.
West Ashley is partnered with the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium, which is a program through Clemson University. Wal-Mart donated $9,000 today to the high school today to be used to build a rain garden and “green roof”.