From left to right: Sean Smith, Evan Hand, Titiksha Gorhe, Coach Emily Gough, Sydney Clark, and Kevin Gough with their sixth place plaque at the awards ceremony. Photos provided by Warsaw Community Schools.

News Release

WARSAW — A team of five Warsaw Community High School students recently placed sixth overall at the NCF Envirothon, held at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Envirothon is an international competition focused on environmental and natural resource conservation, where students develop and present solutions to pressing environmental issues.

Having already secured regional and state titles earlier this year, the team made up of recent WCHS graduates Sydney Clark and Evan Hand, rising senior Titiksha Gorhe, and rising juniors Kevin Gough and Sean Smith went on to represent Indiana against 51 teams from across the U.S., Canadian provinces, and China during the week-long event.

Students participated in intensive field trainings across five key areas: Aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and the current issue of “Roots and Resiliency.” These trainings were followed by rigorous written and hands-on testing.

From left to right: Kevin Gough, Titiksha Gorhe, Sydney Clark, Sean Smith, and Evan Hand on campus before the competition.

One of the most challenging components of the competition was a 20-minute oral presentation, for which students developed a detailed forest management plan titled “Forestry for the Future.” The team completed this during a six-hour sequestration with no internet access or outside assistance.

Team member Titiksha Gorhe reflected, “The most challenging part was creating the oral presentation while being sequestered for six hours. Our ability to stay focused as a team and play off each other’s strengths was really tested under the time crunch.”

Team captain Sydney Clark added, “Creating a successful oral presentation requires integrating everything you’ve learned from all the subject areas into one practical and complex plan.”

Their preparation and teamwork paid off. Their oral presentation earned the 4th-highest score overall, and their consistently strong scores across all five resource areas secured Indiana’s first Top 10 finish in many years.

Beyond the competition, students had the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Banff National Park and build friendships with peers from across North America and China. The breathtaking landscapes of the Canadian Rockies, along with sightings of bighorn sheep, mule deer, and jackrabbits, offered a stunning contrast to Indiana’s scenery.

The team is appreciative to the community organizations and individuals who helped make this experience possible, including Kosciusko Soil and Water Conservation District, The Watershed Foundation, Warsaw Kiwanis Club, Arrowhead RC&D, Nicodemus Cards and Gaming, and Lewis Salvage, as well as numerous individuals who contributed their time, resources, and expertise in support of the team.

From left to right: Sean Smith, Kevin Gough, Titiksha Gorhe, Sydney Clark, and Evan Hand taking in the sights at Banff National Park.