Twelve Kenai Peninsula Borough high school students were selected Thursday by a panel of judges as finalists in the 35th annual Caring for the Kenai competition. The finalists will compete in the oral presentation phase of the CFK program for more than $30,000 in cash awards, a March 7 press release states.

More than 300 students participated in this year’s competition, answering the prompt, “What can I do, invent or create to better care for the environment on the Kenai Peninsula or better prepare for a natural disaster?”

The top 12 finalists came from schools across the borough, the release states, including Homer High School, Kenai Central High School, Soldotna High School and Seward High School.

According to the release, each of the schools will receive a share of $20,000 in cash awards. The top 12 finalists will each receive a share of $10,000 in cash awards, a 20% increase from previous years. The cash awards are credited to the competition’s signature sponsor, Marathon Petroleum, and community partners including ConocoPhillips, PCHS, Hilcorp Alaska, Sweeney’s Clothing, Eyewear Express, HEA, KRSA, Kenai River Raven and the KSRM Radio Group.

“The entries were so interesting this year and covered a wide range of topics, but the best part of the Caring for the Kenai program is the opportunity for finalists to refine their ideas and projects to prepare for their oral presentations in April,” CFK executive director Hadassah Knight said in the release. “It brings real-life experience into the classroom.”

The Caring for the Kenai oral presentations will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Kenai Central High School Little Theater and streamed live over the CFK website. Winners from the 12 finalists will be announced the same evening. The community is encouraged to attend.

Learn more about Caring for the Kenai at caringforthekenai.com.