A Tucson charter school in the Vail School District has won a national designation as a result of its recycling and conservation efforts!

All®, a leading American laundry detergent, recently recognized kids across America via its“Greenest School in America” contest – and Tucson’s own Civano Elementary School received the honor. The school’s impact on making a difference for the environment was featured on the Ellen DeGeneres television show earlier this year, and the award nets a $50,000 grant to be used for green improvements for this charter school in the Vail School District.

More than 3,000 schools from across the country participated in the contest. The K-5 Civano School entered the contest late last year, after a Civano parent heard about the program. The entire school community joined in to participate, with students submitting essays and eco-report cards. The school already focuses on environmental preservation through its water conservation program, its organic garden, its recycling efforts and its use of solar.

Civano is considering using the grant to complete the school kitchen and possibly build a community room, helping to increase awareness about environmental sustainability. This school is part of southeast Tucson’s award-winning community called Civano, which has its share of national designations. In 2004, Sunset magazine named the neighborhood “Best New Community of the Year,” and since then the community has achieved significant recognition for its various environmental programs. To learn more about Civano, visit the community website.

It’s all just another illustration by Ron Park of how Tucson is tops for quality of life!