The second annual Lexus Eco Challenge is on! The Challenge, an educational program and contest that inspires and empowers middle and high school students to learn about the environment and take a stand to improve it, offers a total of one million dollars in grants and scholarships for winning students, teachers and schools.

There were many fine entries in last year's challenge and an even higher level of interest is expected foe the 2008/2009 Eco Challenge.

Lexus is proud to partner with Scholastic Corporation on the Lexus Eco Challenge. Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and children's media. Involved this year is oceanographer and environmentalist Fabian Cousteau. "I'm a believer that once people realize how simple it can be to help protect our environment, they'll get involved. The Lexus Eco Challenge brings this realization to the next generation who will be most affected if we don't begin to find solutions to our environmental challenges today."

There are two parts to the Eco Challenge - the classroom where the curriculum includes learning about the environment; and the competition where students take their lessons and take environmental action.

The challenge starts with registration in September 2008 and concludes with awards announced during April 2009 (Earth Month).

There are three areas of focus in the challenge - land, water and air or climate. Competing teams choose an environmental issue, make a plan to deal with the issue and then report on the results.

There will be 16 teams chosen as winners in each of the three challenges. Each prize is $10,000 in schlarships and grants. These prizes are divided among students, teachers and schools at the middle and high school level.

The Lexus Eco Challenge is endowed with education materials designed by Scholastic Corporation. Their website (www.scholastic.com/lexus) has additional help for the classroom environment to help teams design their eco challenge project.

According to Leuxs, "The Lexus Eco Challenge is part of the Lexus Pursuit of Potential, a philanthropic initiative that generates three million dollars in donations each year for organizations that help build, shape and improve children's lives."