Beaumont, CA – The Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) hosted their annual Speak-Off speech competition at the East Valley Water District Headquarters in Highland on Thursday, October 12th, 2017 at 6:00pm. The topic for this event is different each year, and the 2017 prompt challenged participants to address “How can Resource Conservation Districts better involve their communities in conservation?”  Students in grades 9-12 on campuses within IERCD service boundaries were eligible to participate.

A total of twenty-eight students participated from eight different high schools!! Participating schools included Banning High School, Beaumont High School, Citrus Valley High School, Colton High School, Jurupa Valley High School, Rialto High School, San Bernardino High School, and Yucaipa High School. The first place winner is Katalina Peterson from Beaumont High School who has the potential to move on to the regional and state competitions to win up to $750. Second place winner is Jamie Goodrich also from Beaumont High School and third place winner is Kyle Dayton from Jurupa Valley High School. Honorable mention this year is Victor Mendoza from Rialto High School. Past winners have come from Los Osos High School, Redlands High School, Yucaipa High School, Rancho Cucamonga High School, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School.

The IERCD is a public agency that provides preservation, restoration, education and outreach services to over 25 cities and unincorporated communities in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  The District operates under the guiding principle that the quality of the environment determines the corresponding quality of life, and works accordingly to improve local habitat sustainability for the benefit of all area dependent species.  The Speak-Off is just one of the many events planned and/or participated in by District board and staff, in an effort to spread the message of the importance of conservation of natural resources.

If you would like to know more about IERCD or participate in any workshops or events please visit www.iercd.org or call (909) 799-7407.