Even though school was closed to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, some students in the Rochester City School District volunteered to spend most of the day in the classroom.

Twenty students went to RIT to gain green skills for energy-saving jobs.

East High sophomore William Bermudez has always taken an interest in the environment.

"I like the outdoors. I like the wilderness and I like earth science,” said Bermudez.

Bermudez and 19 other Rochester students volunteered to learn more green skills for eco-friendly job opportunities.

"If I'm able to go into an environment job, I would be really happy. I love the environment," said Bermudez.

The district held one of its first Student Energy Audit Training (SEAT) workshops. The day-long workshop taught students how to recognize ways to save.

“I didn't even know what a watt was until today," said Jennifer Dao, sophomore at East High.

Students also learned about lighting in buildings as well as insulation and how electricity works.

"This is another step for them to become trained so they can in fact go out into the community, small businesses, churches and other such organizations and complete audits on a paid basis," said Maurice Bell, Local Green Schools Program Coordinator.

Bell said that is the overall goal for the workshop.

"It also puts this experience on their resume so to speak, as they apply for colleges and universities. “Green” jobs will be much larger in the near future and we want to get kids ready to do that," added Bell.

Staff members are also pushing for a federal grant to help fund some of those green job opportunities.

Students say whenever those job opportunities come knocking, they will be prepared to answer the call.

Green Schools Program