EcoChallenge Winners - Shane McConkey Foundation

Shane McConkey Ecochallenge past winners

Congratulations!

Everyone who enters the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge is a winner because they have done something wonderful for our beautiful planet. But here are the projects that won our cash prizes for the school or nonprofit of choice.

CLEAN UP YOUR SCHOOL

CLEAN UP A WATERWAY

Create Art

protect wildlife

Inspire others

Plant some trees

2023

expert winner

Jonah won for the design and prototyping of his Flex Charge battery. Flex Charge is a groundbreaking sustainable battery that eliminates the use of rare earth metals – often obtained through environmentally damaging processes. The battery’s moldable properties reduce the need for excess casing materials. Finally, the battery can be mechanically recharged, eliminating the need for chemical reactions and minimizing the release of toxic substances and greenhouse gases. Nice work, Jonah!

Black Diamond winner

This kid-led conservation organization founded by Ella Grace and Cash Daniels led local cleanups to address the issue of plastic pollution with an ambitious goal of picking up 1 million pieces of trash.

Ella and Cash used the power of social media to encourage other kids to join their cause and gained support from schools, clubs, and individuals worldwide.

Having exceeded their goal of 1 million pieces of trash, Ella and Cash continue their cleanups with the goal of inspiring a generation of kids who are passionate about protecting our oceans and planet.

Blue Square winner

The Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC), administered by the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM), comprises passionate high school to college-age students dedicated to preserving Missouri’s outdoor heritage. They engage in advocacy, conservation projects, and community service. During the CLC Fall Workshop, students identified four key issues: 1) reducing bird fatalities from window strikes, 2) reintroducing the Ozark Chinquapin tree, 3) protecting vulnerable prairie ecosystems, and 4) increasing awareness of the Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program (MRAP). The students then implemented their plans through watershed restoration, tree-planting, and public outreach.

Green Circle winner

Lily choreographed this piece and the SWEP team designed the costume. She presented the piece in front of a live audience at the Palisade Tahoe’s Earth Day Festival. Through this dance piece, she was able to remind her community, in a fresh way, that we have to be conscientious about how our everyday decisions affect the environment.