Elaina wrote: During AP European History 4th period, after hearing a particularly morbid way to kill a bird, my classmate says, “this is why I am vegetarian,” and I respond “me too.” Her face brightens at my response and she asks me a question I will never forget, “do you want to help me start a club?” The McKinney High School Vegetarian Club is in its third year running and has connected dozens of people around the school to the vegetarian diet. The average club membership has doubled since I became President my senior year. Through our plant-based chicken nugget taste test and delivering our prepared food to teachers, we have gotten a variety of people not involved in the diet to try vegetarian foods.

Being a member of the Vegetarian Club also enabled me to work on founding a community garden that provides fresh foods to people around my community. The Community Garden partners with food banks to distribute food and with the Vegetarian Club to cook the food. The Community Garden is organic and represents sustainability in food growth.

Throughout all the work I have put into expanding the knowledge of sustainable eating and vegetarianism, there have been trials and tribulations, including the need for grants to start the community garden … The generosity of the people in my community allowed us to reach our goal. With the money we could start planting, however, another challenge arose. The scalding heat of the Texas sun wouldn’t permit us to plant. We persevered and used mulch and coverings to prevent the burning of the plants. In the end a beautiful garden was able to yield food in its first growing season. I learned that with the help of the people in my community, change will occur. We donated cabbage and radishes to the food bank last winter, which were used by low income students and families of our high school.

My goals for the future include a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and then law school for a Juris Doctorate. With these degrees I can work as an environmental attorney helping to protect the planet

The deadline for the annual Vegetarian Resource Group scholarship is February 20 of each year. See other winners and details for entry at https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group internships and scholarships donate at www.vrg.org/donate or mail donations to VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203