Farrington High team brings home $75,000 win

A team of eight Farrington High School students, their teacher-adviser and the school will share $75,000 in scholarships and grants won in a national environmental competition.

The team clinched one of two grand prizes awarded nationwide in the Lexus Environmental Challenge.

The other top award went to five sixth-graders from Academy I Middle School in Jersey City, N.Y.

The Farrington students will be recognized at 10 a.m. today at the school's amphitheater for their project, a campaign to educate people about the benefits of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, solar panels, fuel cells and hydropower.

Students used videos, blogs, a multilanguage Web site and social media Web sites to spread their message.

Farrington and Academy I Middle School also will receive a sculptural rain catcher made from recycling packing materials to promote water conservation. It can be used to collect rainwater for plants on the school's campus.