Lake Wallenpaupack High School emerged from a round-robin competition with top honors in the first High School Energy and Environment Debate held at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in Scranton Wednesday (4/28).

Elk Lake High School in Dimock was runner-up in the tightly contested championship round. Kurt Liebegott of Elk Lake won the Most Valuable Debater Award for the championship competition.

Dr. Patricia Vathis, environment and ecology advisor of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, gave an address to highlight the opening ceremonies. Josh First, director of Environmental Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, provided closing remarks to the nearly 100 in attendance. Representatives of business and industry, organized labor, education and government served as judges for the debates. The students debated the issue of whether or not to mandate an increase in the availability and use of renewable energy sources in the commonwealth.

PP&L, Inc. and the Pennsylvania Department of Education were the major sponsors of the competition, with support from Northeastern Educational IU 19 and the National Institute of Environmental Renewal (NIER).

Other high schools that survived the preliminary competition to debate at the championship round were Blue Ridge, Carbondale, Old Forge and Valley View.

The Wallenpaupack team consisted of Cara Jean Ferraro, Sara Guccini, Jonathan Gabrielson, Allison Carrier, Emily Dunsmore, Theresa Impastato, and faculty advisor Joan Schneider.

In addition to Liebegott, the Elk Lake team consisted of Jonathan Allen, Eric Allen and faculty advisors Keith Brocious and Tim Woolcock.

Winning and runner-up team members and advisors received medals, plaques and trophies for their accomplishments. All other teams received personalized certificates for advancing to the championship round.