Thomas County Middle School's Builders Club has been recognized for their outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship with the prestigious Y.E.S. (Youth Environmental Stewardship) School Award from Keep Thomas County Beautiful (KTCB).

Julie Murphree, Executive Director of KTCB, said “Y.E.S. aims to educate, inspire, and engage students who want to make a difference on their campus through projects and education”.

Under the guidance of a dedicated teacher, Dr. Amanda West, the Builders Club serves as the school's Y.E.S. Champions, leading initiatives to promote sustainability within the campus community. They have taken a pledge to prioritize environmental consciousness and undertake annual projects aligned with KTCB's focus areas, including litter prevention, waste reduction, water/land conservation, and community beautification.  

The projects that earned the recognition this school year was participating in The Great American Cleanup, adding storm drain markers around the TCMS campus, and competing in the River of Words art contest that focuses on watersheds.  Two members of the club, Diya Patel and Xue Zhengkun were first-place regional winners.

This recognition highlights the impactful role of youth in driving positive change towards a cleaner, greener future. By inspiring their peers and engaging in meaningful projects, the Builders Club exemplifies the spirit of environmental leadership, setting a commendable example for schools and communities alike.

Pictured below in the first image are Builders Club members from the front row on the left are Evan Chastain, J. L. West, Sean Zinck, Georgia Knight, Jackie Gasque, Isabel Jenkins, and Emma Love. In the second row are Gavin Edenfield, Diya Patel, Jaron Miller, Alex Diego, Cheyenne Dean, and Janiya Ivey.  On the back row are Dr. Amanda West, Rosie Cooper, Claire Garbett, Adeline Finch, Xue Zhengkun, Kayley Zinck, and Payten Lohmueller.  Not pictured:  Makayla Bass, Ana Capistran, Eisley Herron, Ryland Strickland, Parker Strickland, Brenan West, Kassie White, and Brenna Wilson.

In the second image, Keep Thomas County Beautiful purchased snow cones for The Builders Club members from Banks Italian Ice.