While he was a boy growing up in the Philippines, Leon Enriquez was always fascinated by nature and the environment.
“It was a beautiful place when I lived there,” Enriquez said. “I was always involved with science and nature. I would go boating, climb trees, do anything I could under the sun. Science is my life.”
In 1985, Enriquez moved to the United States, settling first in Union City, then later in North Bergen.
About 10 years ago, Enriquez made a trip back to his native land – and returned in somewhat of a state of shock.
“I had a rude awakening when I went home,” Enriquez said. “The place where I grew up had been devastated by flood. It was a mess. I couldn’t believe it. They were ruining the place where I used to live.”
When Enriquez returned to America, he vowed that he wanted to make a difference.
“I was going to do whatever I could to make sure that this kind of thing wouldn’t happen here,” Enriquez said. “I had to do something about protecting nature and protecting the environment. If I could so something, then maybe it would have a domino effect and other people would get involved.”
As a science teacher, Enriquez had a forum. He could address the issues with students and see if they were willing to make a change in the environment.
Six years ago, Enriquez became a science teacher at High Tech High School in North Bergen, convinced that he wanted to make a difference.
So he started a club at High Tech, called the PHAT Club, that has nothing to do with weight or teenage slang. PHAT stands for Protection of Habitat, Animals and Trees and the club is basically involved with attacking environmental issues.
One of the latest projects of the PHAT Club has been to put “Did You Know?” posters throughout the school, filled with interesting facts about nature and the environment.
The club has also gone out into the community and helped to beautify some areas, including 80th Street Park in North Bergen, helping to plant trees as well. The group, with some 37 students and 75 civilian volunteers, also goes to area nursing homes, such as the Palisades Elder Care Facility on Boulevard East in Guttenberg or Meadowview in Secaucus, in order to help the needy seniors clean their rooms and their wheelchairs.
“We do a lot of fundraising and take the proceeds to buy gifts for the elderly people in the nursing homes,” Enriquez said. “We also make donations to Save the Whales and the Rainforests of South America.”
Impressed other teacher
Last year, Enriquez was attending a workshop in a North Bergen grade school when he ran across North Bergen gifted and talented science teacher Patricia Mazzone.
Mazzone was so impressed with what Enriquez was doing that she nominated Enriquez for an award, the New Jersey Environmental Educator of the Year, which is presented by the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education.
“He has non-stop enthusiasm,” Mazzone said in the nomination form, which also presented all the extra curricular activities Enriquez is involved in.
“I received a letter in the mail that I was nominated,” Enriquez said. “I know that Ms. Mazzone is an environmentalist herself, so I know she likes to get involved. I was honored that she took the time to nominate me.”
Three weeks ago, Enriquez received word that he was the recipient of the annual award. He received the award at a dinner in Lawrenceville last week.
As the New Jersey recipient, Enriquez is now nominated for the national award that will be presented later this year.
“I had no idea so many people were watching what I was doing,” Enriquez said. “It really is a great honor. I just enjoy doing what I’m doing. I don’t do it to receive awards. I do it because I love to do it.”
The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) is a nonprofit group with more than 300 members from 200 institutions throughout New Jersey whose goal is to create through education awareness, understanding and concern for the quality of the environment.
High Tech Principal Karol Brancato was overjoyed that Enriquez received the honor.
“Leon has dedicated a lot of his time to helping the environment,” Brancato said. “He takes a lot of his free time to help clean up the area, like the parks, like planting trees and helped to organize our program to do something substantial with our school detentions. Instead of sitting in a classroom, they now go with Leon to clean up the parks.”
Added Brancato, “He deserves the honor and we’re extremely proud of him.”
Enriquez didn’t want to take credit for the award.
“I told the kids that this award is for the efforts of the PHAT Club, not me,” Enriquez said. “The club is the one that helps to clean. I’m just doing what I can to give back. Whatever I accomplish, I couldn’t do without the help of the students and the volunteers. They all help me tremendously.”
Enriquez is also busy in another area. He’s a member of the design committee for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s North Hudson Trail program and conservancy.
“I’m just working with other nature-loving people,” Enriquez said. “If I can’t help, then who can? I just loving doing things about nature. If I can help just a little, then it will come back to me tenfold.”
Some of it has already been repaid – in the form of the prestigious award.