On the eve of Earth Day, a group of Newberry High students has made the competition green with envy after a big win in a national environmental competition.

The Newberry P.R.I.D.E (Panthers Researching and Improving Different Environments) was one of seven teams to take first prize for the Lexus Eco-Challenge.

It consists of three initial phases: land, climate, and water. The team won two of them to advance to the final. Their entry focused on educating people about water habitats and vanishing wetlands.

"It surprises me how much people just don't know about it and how important it is," said P.R.I.D.E. team member Ja'Layne Kronz. "That's just why I'm so passionate about teaching people."

The team received $30,000 in prize money.