MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - A North Memphis student with a penchant for green living has helped save taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Now, she hopes a special opportunity will give her more tools to continue helping others.
At 17-years-old, Douglass High School rising senior April Jones already has a strong belief system.
"I'm a firm believer that we should go green and we should keep the environment safe," said Jones
With a 4.3 GPA, perfect attendance, and an ROTC membership, Jones took extraordinary measures when she started having allergy troubles in 9th grade.
"I thought, 'We should start going green'," Jones stated.
Jones asked her science teacher what they could do to curb pollution. Two years later, with Memphis City Schools in full support, Jones helped establish the Recycling Club and turn Douglass High into a certified green school.
"A green school is where a student, people on a campus or a community come together to create projects to reduce waste and conserve energy and water," explained Jones.
They even do holiday shut downs, unplugging anything with a cord.
Jones said it has made a big difference. A difference of $26,000 over two years.
They also recycle paper, plastic and ink cartridges, and proceeds go to the Science Club to buy materials.
Memphis Prep School accepted Jones into an exclusive summer program at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire this July. She's charged with the task of raising $2,000 of the $7,000 tuition.
Jones has faith it'll all work out - just like the Douglass High School Recycling program.
"'You don't know anything. You're just a young girl. How could you discover something like this?' You can do anything if you just put your mind to it," said Jones.
Jones wants to be an environmental scientist. Her dream school is Yale University, and she wants to return to Memphis after college.
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