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'Chasing Coral' documentary screening at Hudsonville High School

We've all heard the phrase one person can make a difference. Sophomore Sophia Putman is proof that's true. Sophia saw the documentary 'Chasing Coral' in November with her family and knew more people needed to see it.

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. -- Earth Day is Sunday, April 22 and lots of local schools are doing Earth Week activities leading up to the worldwide event. One of them is Hudsonville High School where Earth Week culminates Friday night with a documentary screening that's open to the community.

Sophomore Sophia Putman pitched the screening of "Chasing Coral" to Hudsonville High School's Green Team, an environmental club that meets every Wednesday to recycle the schools bottles, cans and chip bags. They also learn about stewardship.

The vision of the team is to educate not only students, but also faculty and community members about environmental topics. The Green Team loved the documentary and backed Sophia's idea to have a screening for the community.

"Chasing Coral" is about a team of scientists and divers, and their mission to document the damaging effects climate change has on coral reefs.

"We all live on this planet, we've all got to take responsibility for the harm that we are causing the ecosystems, specifically the coral reefs," said Sophia.

"They are facing the most drastic changes right now and I really hope that this will shed some light on the issue and that people will take action," she said.

Hudsonville High School science teacher Christine Webster is also the Green Team advisor.

"Sophia is one of those students who comes along in a teachers life time and just knocks your socks off from the very beginning and takes you on a journey that you have absolutely no idea where its going to end up because the potential is so great," said Mrs. Webster.

"That is kind of what happened with 'Chasing Coral.' She came in, she talked to the Green Team in November, she wanted to do a screening with us. Then we got excited we got really passionate about it," she explained.

Sophia says Friday's screening wouldn't be possible without the support of the Green Ream and Mrs. Webster.

You can watch 'Chasing Coral' with your family Friday at 7 p.m. at Hudsonville High School's main campus auditorium on 32nd Ave. It's free.

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