Local students winner in "Trees Rock" contest

Third grader Lynda Toumi, from Coconut Grove Elementary School, will be honored today for winning the “Trees Rock” essay contest, hosted by Scotties and American Forests.

Lynda has inspired her classmates, teachers, principals and community to be a little greener through her powerful words. As a result, she will be feted with a tree planting at her school, where she will read her inspiring words and working with her classmates to plant some trees. They’ll also be getting some other cool prizes, but if you ask Lynda, none is cooler than the trees.

Even more unique is that each of the trees being planted comes from American Forests’ Historic Tree Program – a nursery which grows trees that are authentic direct descendents of trees that have shaded historic people, places and events. Specifically, Angel Live Oaks – the oldest living tree east of the Mississippi -- will be planted at these schools, adding to the symbolism of this event. Lynda and her classmates will help plant history and watch it grow outside their windows.

Dhananjay Suresh of Comstock Elementary School; Jennifer Prelaz of Southside Elementary Museum are also being honored.

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is proud of Dhananjay, Jennifer and Lynda for their essays on the value of trees and we’re happy that Scotties has provided us with an opportunity to beautify our schools and to engage our students in that conversation”, says Ana Rijo-Conde, Eco-Sustainability Officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “Raising student awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and prompting them to think about how it relates to their quality of life has created a sense of ownership that will likely be long-lasting.”