leave for higher paying jobs.” To keep current employees they are offering pay raises between

Last month, 122 students graduated from Itineris Early College High School with more than just a high school education. Many had also earned an associate’s degree and scholarships (the class’s combined total in scholarships was $4.4 million.) But the most unique education they left with were the lessons in environmental sustainability.

The IECHS campus has solar panels, an electric car charging station, a garden and water-wise landscaping.

One of the core principles of Itineris’ mission is civic responsibility, the reason why the school has become a model of sustainability. The school building was constructed energy efficiently eight years ago. Through multiple grants and initiatives, further improvements have been made.

A solar power project, funded by a $109,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky customers, was completed this spring. Solar panels cover twothirds of the school roof to provide 50% of the building’s electrical needs. The school also reduces their energy consumption through participation in a program to slow the electricity draw on the HVAC unit during high demand times.

“I really want us, as a school, to be a role model for the community of what environmental sustainability could look like,” said Jeff Bossard, Itineris Director of Students and Facilities.

Students, staff and community members have been involved in many of the projects such as removing 1400 sq ft of grass and 50 sprinkler heads from the property. Using a grant from the West Jordan Water Conservancy, more xeriscaping is taking place this summer.

In 2021, National Honors Society members headed a project to build planter boxes with drip irrigation systems. The hope is to use them to grow vegetables that can be used in the cafeteria’s salad bar. For now, the environmental science and biology classes will use the garden as part of their curriculum.

Science teacher Rob Machol said the school’s planter boxes and solar projects will be part of the discussion during the unit on the importance of sustainable urban planning. He previously used the solar panels on his home for illustration but is looking forward to using data from the school this coming year.

“It will be awesome to be able to look at what, I assume, will be a massive amount of voltage coming from the top of our school,” Machol said.

Machol’s masters degree is in environmental science modeling, so he incorporates modeling in his classes.

“We teach a lot about renewable vs. non-renewable in environmental science,” he said. “We talk a whole lot about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions and what we need to do based on various models.”

Faculty members are excited about the environmentally-friendly building, especially those, like Machol and Lisa Hammonds, who drive electric cars.

“We have a little Nissan Leaf and the [electric car] chargers went in right before gas prices started going up, so it's really been a lifesaver for us just on teacher’s income,” Hammonds said. “I love that we have chargers there and I love that they are being powered by solar. I love that our school is ecologically minded.”

Students, staff and community members will continue to work on projects to reduce the school’s impact on the environment. In the future, Bossard hopes to add additional solar panels to the patio on the south side of the building.

Bossard said the students who have been involved in the conservation and environmentally-friendly projects have learned about the effect individuals can have on the environment, and simple changes they can make.

“I call it planting a seed that you hope grows into people who make decisions that are good for the environment and also lead others to do the same,” he said. l

National Honors Society members build planter boxes with materials donated by community members. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Bossard.) The community celebrates the completion of the new solar project on Itineris Early College High School with a grant from Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Bossard.)

Students help remove grass and sprinkler heads to make way for a more water-conservative landscape as part of an Eagle Scout Project. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Bossard.)

Copper Hills wrestler headed to world championships

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Copper Hills is sending one of its finest wrestlers to the 17 and under world championships.

“It is my second year wrestling,” Copper Hills senior Anya Hatch said. “My dad got me into the sport. He got me out and asked me to try out. It was something new that I had never done before. It is a really different sport.”

Hatch’s father has helped coach wresting at Copper Hills for 13 seasons, starting when his oldest son was a freshman. Two years ago he and Scott Pace helped organize the first girls team at the school. The team has finished runner-up at state both years and Hatch has won two state titles in her weight class.

Anya Hatch defeated her Copper Hills teammate and co-captain, Tayleigh Robertson, for this year’s title. She pinned her at the 2 minutes 38 seconds point of the match.

“Anya has played volleyball competitively and I went to her and said 'hey, will you just come to try this,'” father Jay Hatch said. “Her Mom did not really like it because at first, the girls had to wrestle boys, but when they started all-girls wrestling she gave it a shot.”

In June Anya Hatch participated in the United States world team trials in Dallas, Texas. She lost in the semi-finals. The winner qualified as part of the world team traveling to Rome, Italy in July.

“Her club coach reached out to the Tongan Olympic team and asked about Anya representing them at the worlds. They said they would love to have her,” Jay Hatch said.

Anya Hatch was born in the island nation of Tonga and at age 3 became an orphan. She was adopted by Jay and Penina Leakehe Hatch and brought to Utah.

“Anya will be the first female Tongan to wrestle at a world event,” Jay Hatch said. “This is jumpstarting Polynesian girls in the United States and in other countries to start wrestling and take notice. It is a pretty exciting thing.”

Girls wrestling has been a UHSAA-sanctioned sport for two seasons. The number of wrestlers has nearly doubled and most high schools now have full teams.

The world wrestling championship is scheduled to be held July 25-31 in Rome, Italy. The Tongan Olympic committee does not have the financial ability to help her get to the championship. She and her family have been tasked with raising money so she can participate.

“We started a GoFundMe and have been looking for businesses to help participate. We have raised about $2,000, but we need more than that to get her there,” Jay Hatch said. “Corporate sponsors could help us. She could do some marketing or promote the business.”

Girls wrestling has been such a new program at Copper Hills, Hatch and her teammates have had to help recruit other girls to come out for the team.

“I have learned wrestling and mental skills. I have had to learn to do it myself. It is physically tiring. I tell girls to try this out,” Anya Hatch said.

Hatch has six brothers and sisters. She would like to have her mom travel with her to Rome for the event.

“She is an unreal and natural athlete. She excels at any sport. She is unbelievably strong. She knows how to do things naturally. She has a carefree personality and I think that is to her benefit,” Jay Hatch said. “We want this sport to grow. She has friends across the nation because of this sport.” l

Anya Hatch has won two straight state wrestling titles and is ranked in the top 15 in the country. (Photo courtesy of Jay Hatch)