Las Vegas Middle School Receives National Award

Middle school students serve as national example of good stewards of our public lands

July 16, 2009

Dr. Wiliam H. “Bob” Bailey Middle School has been named the best school program in the nation. The recognition comes from Take Pride in America, a national partnership program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America’s public lands. Each year, Take Pride selects outstanding examples of stewardship across the country. Bailey Middle School is one of 15 recipients of the 2009 Take Pride in America National Award, representing projects and events in 11 states and the District of Columbia.

Bailey Middle School joined with Liliam Hickey Elementary School to initiate the Great Unconformity Community Sponsorship. The program was designed to increase student achievement while developing a sense of community pride through the sponsorship of the Great Unconformity, a national geographical landmark located on Lake Mead Boulevard about 1.5 miles from the schools. The site, which is adjacent to the urban environment, was being destroyed by spray paint graffiti, broken beer bottles, and general trash.

Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada joined with the students, parents, the Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers, Citizens for Active Management, UNLV, and Touro University Occupational Therapy students to sponsor the site. Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada is managed by the Public Lands Institute at UNLV and is a conservation initiative of the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership, a unique interagency partnership comprised of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

Approximately 400 students, volunteers, and agency representatives conducted seven clean-up events from September 2008 through April 2009 and removed six dumpster-loads of trash. In addition, students, teachers, and parents interacted with the habitat and historic site to learn how to protect the environment. Representatives of the Great Unconformity Community Sponsorship will be in Washington, D.C. to be honored at an awards ceremony for all national award winners on July 17 at the Department of Interior.

Bailey Middle School has made more than 20 field trips to the site since 2005 when the school opened. Bailey was officially named a Take Pride in America School in 2007, the only school in Nevada to have the designation.