SALEM, Ohio - Over 170 high school students across Northern Ohio flocked over to Kent State University's Salem campus to put their environmental skills to the test Thursday afternoon.

The university hosted a competition called "Envirothon," which is based on knowledge of the environment and natural resource conservation. 

According to Boardman High School science teacher, Heather Moran, this event has been going on since the early 1990s. Moran tells 21 News she's been participating in it for about 12 to 15 years.

Moran tells us students are tested in five areas including aquatics, Ohio wildlife, forestry, soils and a current environmental issue.

Moran went on to say that environmental science is a branch of science that becomes very applicable in everyday life.

"Once they get out into their careers, whether it's in wildlife or in engineering or agriculture, they can apply the things they learn in their science classes to what they're going to learn in their real life," Moran said.

The winner of this year's competition comes from Portage County, but Mahoning Valley contestants represented very well.