THE AQUAPALS
We are a team of six researchers at a high school in New York. Being so close to the Hudson River, we have seen the way that PCB contamination has impacted our community and we are determined to do something about it! That's where aquaponics comes in. This provides our community with access to safe food sources. Read below to hear about each team member and why they care about aquaponics in our beautiful Hudson Valley.
SO... WHO ARE THE AQUAPALS?
DISCOVER AQUAPALS: EMME
Meet Emme!
As a senior at Arlington High School, Emme has been with the system since day one and loves it like it’s her child. She enjoys dance parties in the fish room and has found her true passion as a fish farmer. She is a proud mother of brown trout and tilapia, she is glad to be alive, and grateful for the opportunity to create a sustainable source of food and have fun while doing it. Aquaponics is important to her because PCB contamination is a major issue in the Hudson Valley and aquaponics creates a safe supply of food! After winning the Lexus Ecochallenge, she has become extremely politically active to demand that the Hudson River is cleaned up for future generations!
DISCOVER AQUAPALS: SHANNON
Meet Shannon!
Shannon is a senior at Arlington High School and a proud member of the AquaPals team. She is in charge of collecting data and managing the water, but also helps out in other areas when needed. Shannon also loves interacting with the community and is excited about the possibilities of aquaponics! After winning the Lexus Ecochallenge, Shannon has dedicated her time into researching PCB crises across the world, and collaborating with a local legislator to spread aquaponics throughout our community.
DISCOVER AQUAPALS: TYLER
Meet Tyler!
Tyler is the name, efficiency is the game. Tyler is a senior at Arlington and loves being an AquaPal! He cares about sustainability and has worked to minimize our waste and usage! Tyler manages our energy consumption with solar panels and has come up with plans for saving water! He's so glad that the Pals have been able to limit the water contamination issue in the Hudson Valley. Post-Lexus, Tyler is focusing on creating DIY aquaponics systems for our community. These self-engineered systems will provide our area with food and hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom.
DISCOVER AQUAPALS: JAKE
Meet Jake!
Jake is a senior at Arlington High School and he loves many things. Some of those things are fish, plants, his friends, and science. When he saw the opportunity to build and maintain an aquaponics system that involved all of the things he loves, he didn't hesitate for a second. He's been with this system from the start and can't wait to see what it produces. Since winning Lexus, Jake has been specializing in increasing our sustainability through coconut coir. Jake will be attending Vassar College in the fall and cannot wait to participate in the Final Challenge for Lexus.
DISCOVER AQUAPALS: KRISHNA
Meet Krishna!
Krishna is a senior at Arlington High School. He is the resident DO specialist in the AquaPals and wants to make sure that our fish are safe and flourishing! Krishna is proud of the great progress that the Pals have made so far and can't wait to see where the team goes from here! Since winning Lexus, Krishna has focused on technological advancements through 3d printing. He plans to expand the accessibility of aquaponics in all shapes and sizes!
DISCOVER AQUAPALS: SPENCER
Meet Spencer!
Spencer is a senior at Arlington High School. Spencer has been looking forward to this science research project for his entire life. He contributes not only through his environmental research on contaminants in the Hudson River, but also through: capturing convict fish, pranking team members, and drinking dirty water. He really does it all. As for the fish (minus the convicts the rounds up in the system), Spencer also considers himself the animal rights specialist. As the Lorax once said about Spencer, “Good man. Speaks for the fish.”
DISCOVER AQUAPALS:
ADVISOR MARIBEL PREGNALL
Meet Mrs. Pregnall!
Maribel Pregnall is a veteran Lexus EcoChallenge winner, who loves the AquaPals with her whole heart. The AquaPals are her ninth team to win the Challenge and she is excited to guide us towards spreading aquaponics throughout the Hudson Valley and the greater world beyond!