Excellence in School Wellness Award ceremony

Miller Photography

Students surround their lush vertical farm with Diaz (extreme right) and “green” teacher Steven Ritz (third from right).

Miller Photography

Fans and supporters of the Discovery initiative fill the rotunda.

Discovery HS, called the greenest school in New York City for the success of its vertical farm program, received the first Excellence in School Wellness Award for high schools at a ceremony in the Grand Rotunda of Bronx Borough Hall on April 12 hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Discovery HS students not only produce edible food walls that feed 450 students healthy meals, they also run a profitable community-based farmer’s market. In presenting the award given by the New York City Strategic Alliance for Health for the school’s green initiative that promotes healthier lifestyles and academic achievement, Diaz said, “With programs like this vertical farm, we are becoming pioneers in green technology and preparing our youth to be the leaders of this new economy.”