Prize Money Helps N. Babylon Students Learn About Erosion

A $2,000 grant will help a teacher from North Babylon’s Robert Moses Middle School teach students about beach erosion on Long Island, especially damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

According to a statement released by the school district sixth-grade teacher Christopher Brodmerkel received the grant money from the ING Unsung Heroes Awards Program. His application was selected from thousands of others and is now on a list of 100 others for one of three larger prizes to be awarded this summer.

Brodmerkel is advisor to the school's Recycling Club and he will use the grant money to visit Cedar Beach and the 9/11 Memorial with 75 sixth-graders in the club. Students will learn about "the dune ecosystem and its importance to Long Island, and participate in replanting efforts," according to the statement.

The project is being coordinated with Tracy Marcus at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Center at Cedar Beach.

“The main purpose of the club is to educate students on the importance of recycling and environmental awareness,” said Brodmerkel. “In addition, the Recycling Club actually collects and recycles paper, bottles and cans within the school. Without the club, these materials would be taken away as regular garbage.”