Russell High School Named 2025–2026 Kentucky Green School of the Year
Russell High School has a lot to celebrate! For its outstanding commitment to environmental
stewardship, student leadership, and community engagement, Russell High School has been named the 2025–2026 Kentucky Green School of the Year.
The school will be honored at the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education’s (KAEE) 50th Annual Conference in November, where students and Green Team coach Olivia Matney will receive the award recognizing their accomplishments throughout the 2025–2026 school year.
Russell High’s journey began with a goal of completing all five Kentucky Green Schools thematic investigations: Energy, School Environment, School Site, Waste & Recycling, and Water. By completing all five, the school earned Gold-level status as a Kentucky Green School. But the real achievement lies in what students did with their investigations—turning questions about their school and environment into projects that are creating lasting change.
The year got off to a strong start with Waste & Recycling, one of the Conservation Club’s primary goals. Under the leadership of Club Vice President Kate Gervais, students revitalized the school’s recycling program by fundraising to provide recycling bins in every classroom. They also established a student-managed weekly collection system, making recycling more accessible while reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
For the Water investigation, students developed “Mussel Monday” as part of their annual Earth Week programming. The schoolwide campaign highlighted Kentucky’s native freshwater mussels and their important role in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Students shared information from Kentucky Wild, organized a “Flex Your Muscles for the Mussels” competition, and used social media to extend their message into the broader community.
The School Site investigation led to a colorful new addition to the school grounds: a large conservation-themed mural. Students took the lead in engaging local organizations, businesses, and community members as sponsors, strengthening community partnerships while raising awareness of regional conservation.
For the School Environment investigation, students focused on expanding opportunities for learning outdoors. Through student-led fundraising and community sponsorships, they secured funding for seven wooden picnic tables to create a dedicated outdoor classroom. The space will provide new opportunities for place-based, experiential learning and help students connect more deeply with the natural environment.
The Energy investigation presented a few extra challenges, as ongoing renovations made data collection difficult. Students persevered, however, and launched an energy conservation campaign under the leadership of Conservation Club President Zee Ryan. Zee created and distributed a brochure encouraging faculty to be more mindful of classroom technology use and to take advantage of natural and ambient lighting whenever possible.
Behind all of these accomplishments is the leadership of Olivia Matney, whose work has helped Russell High’s Conservation Club grow each year. As colleague David Caniff shared, “Mrs. Matney has brought environmental awareness to our school that we previously didn't have.” He points to the club’s growth, the outdoor classroom and conservation mural, and the students’ increasing awareness of local plants and animals as examples of her impact.
Russell High School’s 2025–2026 Green School of the Year award celebrates more than a collection of projects. It celebrates students who investigated their school, identified opportunities for change, and worked together to make a difference. KAEE looks forward to celebrating Olivia, the Conservation Club, and the entire Russell High School community at our 50th Annual Conference in November!
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