When it rains, thousands of gallons of rainwater gush from the flat roofs of the school building, the portable classroom buildings, several nearby county buildings and the big parking lots encircling them. Instead of filtering into the immediate soil, the water hurtles through a drainpipe into Gingerville Gorge, located directly across Riva Road. The water rushes at such a high velocity, it has scoured away the land.

Before restoration efforts began recently, rainwater had chiseled the slope into a 15- to 20-foot deep gorge. The resulting sediment was dumped into Gingerville Creek and, further on, the South River.

Seeking a way to make a difference, Jeremy analyzed the situation. Along with classmates Leyla Jamison and Katherine Boyer, he researched methods to reduce the rain runoff coming from Annapolis High.

Focusing on the portable classrooms, they contacted Steve Barry, coordinator of environmental/outdoor education at Arlington Echo, and Diana L. Muller, the South River's riverkeeper, part of the South River Federation. The trio wanted to help the environment while doing a Creativity, Action and Service Project required of all IB students.

Barry showed them the rain barrels sold by Arlington Echo and explained how their use slowed rain runoff. The collected rainwater could be used later to water nearby plants.

"Jeremy wrote a grant application to the Chesapeake Bay Trust," said Muller. Dr. Jana Davis, the CBT's associate director of programs and its chief scientist, approved the grant request.

Chemistry instructor and IB CAS coordinator, Gail Tucker, noted: "Jeremy used his knowledge of science and math to calculate the volume of rain water runoff from the portable classrooms, which was essential for the rain barrel grant application. Integration of classroom knowledge and community service is part of the vision at Annapolis High."

"He received $640 to purchase rain barrels for the portable classrooms," Muller added.

While the students waited for the barrels to arrive, they helped create a rain garden at the Ginger Cove retirement community, which borders Gingerville Creek. "We used plants that absorb nutrients and water," Jeremy noted.

When the barrels arrived, Jeremy and another classmate, Johnny Mao, borrowed a hacksaw and a few other tools. They installed the barrels on eight classroom drain spouts. "We cut off the downspout and attached the hose that leads from the downspout to the barrel," he explained.

The concept is to slow the runoff, so not all that water is coming down at once and rushing into the gorge. "We came up with the idea because we care about the environment."

"I've noticed there's not as much standing water after a rainstorm," he said.

The teen works to improve the academic environment, too. Jeremy is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society, and he is among the top five students in the Class of 2010. Two days a week, after school, he tutors other students in chemistry, algebra I and II, college algebra, geometry and Spanish. He is also a private tutor.

The teen is also one of Annapolis High's scholar-athletes. Though Jeremy eschewed fall sports to acclimate himself to a new school year, he is a member of the varsity indoor and outdoor track teams and is co-captain of the indoor track team.

Jeremy is active in his church, the Holy Temple Cathedral on Bestgate Road. He is a member of the youth ministry, an usher and a member of the youth choir. To raise funds for community outreach projects, like Thanksgiving baskets for the homeless and needy families, Jeremy volunteers to work at the concession stand during Navy football games at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

"I'm the cashier at every home game," he said with a smile. No surprise, he is currently training to become a member of the Cathedral's Finance Team.

During summer months, he volunteers as an assistant in the Summer Reading Program at the West Street Public Library. He assists the librarians, supervises children during program activities and re-shelves books.

He has been accepted at two top colleges and is waiting word from a few others. Later this spring, he'll decide where to go. Jeremy is hoping to major in computer sciences. "The major is growing," he said. "We're becoming a more technical world."

His bachelor of science degree will be a stepping stone, he thinks, to an eventual master's or doctorate degree. "Later on," he mused, "I might want to be a professor."

His father, Andres Blackstone, is a substitute teacher in the county schools. His mother, Beverly Blackstone, is a student advocate at J. Albert Adams Academy on Clay Street. His brother, David, 15, is a freshman in the ELP/IB Programme at Annapolis High.

Talking of his IB experience, Jeremy noted he left a private school program to attend Annapolis High. "I went in to IB so I could get a quality education," Jeremy said. "When I start something, I like to finish it."

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