Northstar Academy Awarded a $1,000 Green Grant
Northstar Academy and Career Center in Henrico County is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Recycling and Waste Reduction category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.
Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.
Northstar is a nonprofit, private school in Glen Allen with a mission to promote educational excellence and career opportunities for students with disabilities who have academic, physical or social challenges. They serve students in K-12, and their Career Center program serves ages 16-24. The non-profit fosters a supportive, inclusive, and innovative learning environment that meets the diverse needs of their students through individualized instruction and real-world learning experiences.
The Academy runs a student-led recycling initiative aimed at reducing waste across their school campus. Funds provided by this grant award will be used to purchase ten 23-gallon recycling bins with lids, and a 23-gallon triple sort recycling bin. The new bins will replace older and smaller existing bins, and two new bins will be placed in their new gym and community room. This project not only promotes environmental stewardship but also creates real-world vocational experience for students with learning differences. 
In addition to reducing waste across Northstar’s campus, the project will provide hands-on learning opportunities for students with disabilities. Through weekly recycling collection, students will gain experience in responsibility, organization, and environmental advocacy.
By incorporating sustainability into both the school culture and vocational education, this project creates a long-term shift in behaviors and expectations around recycling. Students will take pride in seeing the measurable results of their efforts, while also practicing executive-function skills, such as organization and planning and prioritizing, that align with Northstar’s mission of preparing students for independence and success.