By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A Wake County high school team placed second in an international environmental competition, officials said Tuesday.
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The Subchronic Exposure team at Enloe Magnet High School in Raleigh competed against the top environmental science teams across the U.S., Canada, China, and Singapore at the 2026 International NCF-Envirothon, according to Wake County officials.
According to county officials, the teams competed in hands-on challenges involving aquatics, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, from July 19 to July 25.
Officials said the Wake County team’s second-place finish is North Carolina’s highest at the competition. New York won the championship, with North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts rounding out the top five.
Team members Danica Cheaz, Angelina Li, Saya Newton, Claire Skinner, and Iris Wang earned a $10,000 scholarship for finishing second and won two additional $1,500 scholarships for receiving the highest station awards in Wildlife and Current Environmental Issues, according to county officials.
According to Wake County officials, this is the team’s ninth appearance at International NCF-Envirothon. The team has placed in the top 10 each time.
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Officials said the team has been led by Coach Chad Ogren since the 1998-99 school year, who received the Wave of the Future Award, recognizing Envirothon teachers, advisors, and alumni who have made a lasting impact on the program. The team has also been mentored and supported by co-advisor Karen Howard.
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“I tell the students we’re going to learn a lot, work hard, represent our community well and have fun along the way,” Ogren said in a statement. “Seeing all of that come together with a historic second-place finish makes me incredibly proud of this team.”
According to officials, the team is supported by the Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District, which provides educational resources, training opportunities, and financial assistance to help cover competition expenses. The competition is one of the district’s environmental education programs.
“This remarkable achievement reflects the students’ dedication, countless hours of preparation and passion for environmental science,” Wake County Commissioner Susan Evans said in a statement. “They have represented Wake County and North Carolina with excellence and continue to set a new standard for academic competition.”
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