The United States Department of Education named Los Altos High School one of 27 nationwide Green Ribbon Schools for its “promising practices to improve achievement and equity” on Wednesday, April 21. LAHS previously held the title of a California Green Ribbon School — a different sustainability award for schools — where it was recognized as a California Green Achiever, the highest level of recognition offered to statewide Green Ribbon Schools. 

The Green Team, a club dedicated to promoting healthy environmental practices, works to implement sustainable practices at LAHS and played a major role in Los Altos’ Green Ribbon School selection. 

Green Team Co-Presidents seniors Margaret Capetz and Audrey Chang worked alongside Vice President sophomore Michael Young and parent liaison Sybil Cramer to complete the application starting the summer of 2020. The team conducted extensive research and compiled their results into a 45-page document, divided into the three Green Ribbon School pillars: sustainability, reduced environmental impact and health and wellness. 

“We aimed to use the application as an opportunity to identify areas in which Los Altos could grow and do better, as the application itself comprehensively outlined various characteristics of environmental schools,” Audrey said. 

Beyond their work for the Green Ribbon School application, the Green Team has maintained other projects to uphold sustainability at Los Altos, even during distance learning. This year has actually been one of the Green Team’s most productive, according to Margaret, with informative talks, campaigns, petitions, educational programs and other projects.

The Green Team has been acknowledged as a major advocate for environmentalism at Los Altos and will be receiving recognition from Los Altos Mayor Neysa Fligor for their work next Tuesday, April 27. 

“Audrey and I are so proud of all the work Green Team has done this year — and all the lives Green Team members have touched,” Margaret said. 

Members will be able to celebrate their accomplishments at a U.S. Department of Education awards ceremony in Washington D.C. later this year, if coronavirus safety guidelines permit.