Kathleen Murray and Norma Ferrigno

Murray and Ferrigno developed the "Saving the Environment - One Student at a Time" project to teach students in lower elementary school grades (K-second) and English as a Second Language (ESL) kindergartners how to love and care for the Earth. Through the program, students will create a butterfly garden in their schoolyard. They will plant various bushes and flowers to attract butterflies, birds and other animals. The students will also plant tree seedlings, flowers and other plants in and around their community. Murray and Ferrigno will also introduce them to recycling and waste-reducing concepts. By teaching children practical ideas to help the environment, the students will develop an appreciation for nature, which will make them better stewards of the Earth and their environment as they get older. An additional benefit of the program is that the hands-on activities will make the science lessons easier for the ESL students to understand, thus improving their language and science skills. Murray resides in Malverne and Ferrigno is a resident of Valley Stream.