2016 Fall Dragon

From left to right, Andrea Falken, Director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS),
Assistant Principal Colette Roche, President Steve Phelps, Director of Sustainability Andra Yeghoian, Director of
Counseling Fran Warmerdam and Adam Honeysett, Managing Director of State and Local Engagement.
Photo by U.S. Department of Education.
Federal Green
Ribbon Schools
Award Presented
to O’Dowd
President Steve Phelps, Director of Sustainability Andra
Yeghoian, Assistant Principal Colette Roche and
Director of Counseling Fran Warmerdam traveled to
Washington, D.C., in July to accept O’Dowd’s 2016
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School
award at a ceremony held at the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
O’Dowd was the only Catholic school to
receive the award this year, among 47
schools and 15 districts honored for their
exemplary efforts to reduce environmental
impacts and costs, promote better
health and ensure effective environmental
education. In addition, 11 colleges
and universities were honored with the
Postsecondary Sustainability Award.
At the awards ceremony, U.S. Secretary of Education
John B. King, Jr. said, “I congratulate these honorees
that are leaders in school facilities, wellness and
environmental education practices. Their common-sense
approach to investing more in education
– rather than in utility bills – improves health and
attendance, while exciting students about hands-on,
real world learning. Healthy, safe and efficient facilities
as well as access to sustainability education are
innovative ways to boost productivity and performance
at every grade level.”
Fall Magazine 2016 // 23