COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — May 22, 2025 — The University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene’s Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) partnered with North Idaho College (NIC) to celebrate the winners of the 2025 Youth Water Summit. This annual event empowers high school students to investigate and address real-world water issues in their communities through hands-on research, innovation, and public presentation.
Held Tuesday, May 20 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, the Summit brought together hundreds of high school students from across North Idaho. The event marked the culmination of The Confluence Project, a yearlong field science program led by experts from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Panhandle Health, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, and IdaH2O.
Through a new partnership, fifteen first-place winners received $1,000 tuition and fee scholarships, courtesy of the North Idaho College Foundation. NIC President Nick Swayne emphasized the significance of the awards:
“We’re proud to support the Youth Water Summit and the students passionate about science and tackling real challenges in our region,” said NIC President Nick Swayne. “Scholarships like this are not only a reward for their efforts, but also an investment in our community’s future.”
First-Place Projects
Each first-place team received a $1,000 tuition and fee scholarship from the North Idaho College Foundation.
- Coeur d’Alene High School
Jack Jenkins and Jane Dance – The Impacts of Waves - Kellogg High School
Daton Colburn, Gage Nosworthy, and Cayden Honnerlaw – Climate Change’s Effect on Trout - Lake City High School
Kira Taft, Taylor Wakefield, and Leo Esler – Rooted Solutions - Post Falls High School
Austin Hicks, Samuel Rangel, and Gavin Schneider – Heavy Metals and Chemicals in Roof Runoff - Timberlake High School
Kylie Mock and Nevaeh Mendoza – Microfibers Coming Out of Washing Machines - Wallace High School
Jaedynn Hammerberg and Madison Johnson – The Role of Micro Invertebrates in Assessing Aquatic Health
Second-Place Projects
Second-place teams were awarded collectible silver coins donated by Sunshine Mines.
- Coeur d’Alene High School
Chloe Orear and Kelsey Breaux – Lurking LEAD in CDA Lake - Kellogg High School
Tristan James, Russell Fields, DJ Smith, and Audrey Jessup – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Algae - Lake City High School
Chloe Johnson – Art and Ecology - Post Falls High School
Ainsley Parker and Emma Sorenson – Dock Effects on Macroinvertebrates - Timberlake High School
Kaeleb Pertle – The Effects of Excessive Well Water Drilling on the SVRP Aquifer - Wallace High School
Kadance Miller and Evan Ellison – Filtering Water
Third-Place Projects
Third-place teams were awarded gift cards donated by local businesses.
- Coeur d’Alene High School
Ava Gabbert and Lola Bell – Phosphorus in Hayden Lake - Kellogg High School
Colton Storey, Kysaa Dietrich, and Lena Erlendson – How Boats Affect Water Quality - Lake City High School
Caitlyn Gibbons, Collin Gibbons, and Ireland Burruss – Milfoil Madness - Post Falls High School
Kingston Martinez, Benjamin Bektic, and Jackson White – Sawdust Zinc - Timberlake High School
Christina Bashaw and Vanessa McClellan – Water Bird Awareness - Wallace High School
Kaden Trude – Lead Contamination in Our Water Bodies with High Clarity
“Participating in The Confluence Project and presenting their findings at the Youth Water Summit gave students valuable insight into our region’s water resources and our strengths and challenges,” said Mike Wood, IWRRI Outreach and Education Coordinator. “It was a hands-on learning experience that gave them working knowledge of water stewardship questions North Idaho communities are facing.”
NIC’s support of this year’s event marked a milestone in fostering regional collaboration and higher education opportunities for young environmental leaders.
“This partnership was a testament to our shared commitment to education, environmental stewardship, and student success,” said Wood. “We were thrilled to see our students’ hard work recognized in such a meaningful way.”
For more information about the Youth Water Summit, visit iwrri.uidaho.edu/education-confluence
