ADVISORY/Canon Envirothon Draws Teenagers to International Environmental Competition.

News/Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Monday (July 29)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Photo Editor ADVISORY!!! Visit www.envirothon.org (click on 2002 press room icon) for photos of student competitors representing U.S. states and Canadian provinces (available after 6:00 pm EDT, Wednesday, July 31, 2002). Photos of winning teams will be available by 1:00 pm EDT Sunday August 4, 2002 at same web location.

    Who: Over 250 teenagers from 49 U.S. states and Canadian provinces

    What: 2002 Canon Envirothon, international environmental science
          competition with US$ 30,000 in college scholarships at stake

    When: July 29 - August 4, 2002

    Where: Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

    Why: To educate young people about environmental conservation

High school students from across the U.S. and Canada will convene next week in Amherst, Massachusetts, to participate in North America's largest high school environmental competition. Participants will learn about environmental issues affecting natural resources as they compete for awards in the 2002 Canon Envirothon. This 15th annual gathering of high schoolers interested in gaining a better understanding of conservation will be at Hampshire College.

This year 49 teams, 42 from the U.S. and seven from Canada, involving over 250 students will compete in the 2002 Canon Envirothon for a share of the $30,000 in college scholarships that will be awarded to help continue their educations. Teams will be tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and the effects of introduced species on local environments.

The Canon Envirothon is the culmination of a series of competitions that began this past spring involving more than 500,000 teenagers throughout North America. In written tests and oral presentations, five member teams from schools or organizations strove for the distinction of representing their state or province at the Canon Envirothon.

Each team's knowledge will be tested under the supervision of foresters, soil scientists, and wildlife specialists. Teamwork, problem solving and oral presentation skills will be evaluated as each team offers a panel of judges an oral presentation containing recommendations for solving an environmental challenge.

This is the sixth year the competition is sponsored by Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). Canon delivers consumer, business-to-business and industrial imaging solutions. Canon works to protect the environment through its award-winning Clean Earth Campaign that encompasses development of energy-efficient office products, equipment remanufacturing and materials reuse, as well as the protection of endangered species and environmental education through its corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism.

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