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May 08, 2026
Environmental Efforts Result in Award
LANSING – A school in Southwest Michigan is being honored with the 2026 Michigan Green Ribbon Schools award for its environmental efforts.
The Michigan Department of Education has selected New Buffalo High School/Middle School in Berrien County for this recognition. The award honors schools, districts, early learning centers and postsecondary institutions for reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness and offering effective sustainability education. The 2026 highlights report illustrates the accomplishments of the honoree in these areas.
“It’s important for students to experience hands-on learning about the environment,” said State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko. “New Buffalo is putting its Students First by teaching them about sustainability.”
MDE coordinates the annual Green Ribbon Schools application and works collaboratively with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to provide support to potential candidates and review applications.
“EGLE is proud of the work being done by students and staff at New Buffalo Middle School/High School in the name of environmental education, health, and stewardship,” said Samantha Lichtenwald, EGLE’s Michigan Green Schools coordinator. “The experiences and efforts made will stay with these students throughout their lives, ultimately helping to protect Michigan's air, land, water, and ecosystems in the long term.”
New Buffalo High School/Middle School stands out for its more than 30 student‑driven environmental initiatives, from engineering solar collectors and renewable energy systems to restoring habitats and improving local water quality. These hands‑on projects immerse students in meaningful sustainability work—such as establishing orchards, maintaining an apiary and using mycelium to remediate runoff—while strengthening community partnerships and conservation outcomes.
“In New Buffalo, it’s important for our environmental initiatives to be student-driven,” said science educator Rich Eberly, one of the teachers who works on the school’s environmental projects. “I’ve always been of the attitude that when a student says, ‘We should do X,’ I never want to counter with, ‘No.’ I want to counter with, ‘How?’ I’m proud of our student environmentalists for earning the Green Ribbon School Award and for all their hard work. Our efforts empower students as environmental leaders and demonstrate the school’s innovative, whole-campus commitment to sustainability.”
For more information or to apply for the 2026-27 Green Ribbon Schools award, visit the Michigan's Green Ribbon Schools website.
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