Argyle Alternative High School has won $25,000 in new technology through Staples Canada’s Superpower Your School contest.

The school was among ten national winners in the contest, which had hundreds of entries. Schools highlighted their environmental and sustainable development initiatives for a chance to win. Argyle’s award was announced at a special surprise assembly on April 7.

Argyle won its prize on the strength of its award-winning environmental initiatives and video integration program. Students pick an environmentally relevant topic and create educational videos.

“We’ve been using video and digital media to encourage our community to go green,” said student Zach Mayham-Mousseau, who added that the students’ latest video project is on Manitoba watersheds.

Argyle students’ past work has been recognized by the Manitoba Water Conservation contest, Manitoba Crazy Composting Video contest and both the Manitoba and the Canadian Councils for International Cooperation.

Past video topics included numerous habitat restoration projects throughout North America, rainforests of South America and B.C., the integration of the Aboriginal seven teachings into environmental work and new approaches to eco-responsibility.

Students have plenty of material to work with at Argyle, with sustainable development projects such as a wind turbine/solar panel (which was the first standalone unit installed at a school in Manitoba) and an outdoor education classroom.

“Over the past 10 years, the staff and students at Argyle have worked really hard on a number of environmental initiatives,” said Principal Pat Graham. “The goal was always to create a calm, environmentally-friendly space for our students and our community, while teaching and learning about global environmental issues.”

With the new technology, students will be able to accelerate their ability to produce high quality videos, make Skype video conferencing calls to other environmental experts from around the world and mentor a new generation of students who’ll expand and promote sustainable practices in their community.

See the award winning video submission below: