While many Magnet students pursue a diverse range of activities and interests outside of school, very few of us can place beekeeping on that list. This didn’t stop AMHS senior Lydia Cox, who recently became the third-place winner of the 2020 Bayer Bee Care Blue Ribbon Beekeeper Award.

In Cox’s family, beekeeping is nothing new. “My mom did it when she was a kid, my grandpa did it when he was a kid, so it’s sort of a tradition,” she explains. The family currently has two beehives in their backyard, both gifts from Cox’s grandfather many years ago.

This family history made it easier for Cox to get into beekeeping, a hobby that would scare off many inexperienced in the field. To myself and many others, it is difficult to imagine walking intentionally into an area filled with bees! “It’s kinda scary when you’re in there, but I’ve only gotten stung… I think twice?” Cox recalls. She reminds that while the bees certainly aren’t friendly, bee suits are generally an effective barrier between yourself and the stinging insects.

Cox has also worked on projects outside of her own backyard in her position as an intern for the Charleston Parks Conservancy. Over the summer, Cox worked to create a landscaping design for a new urban pollinator garden. She describes how the project helped her fill the hours during a quarantined summer, spending time researching different plant species and organizing them into a cohesive and accessible design. The conservancy is currently raising money to install the garden at Medway Park and Community Garden on James Island.

Recently, Cox decided to go for it and apply for a scholarship with the Bayer Bee Care Program, without expecting to receive the award. However, in September of 2020, Cox was pleasantly surprised with a third-place win! The award aims to promote the next generations of beekeepers by awarding scholarships to individuals 12-18 years old who promote pollinator health in their communities. Cox has been awarded $1,000 to fund her future beekeeping ventures or to support her future college tuition.

Cox is grateful for the award, and hopes to continue her beekeeping work in college. She is also continuing her current research project regarding native pollinator gardens. She will also continue working on her senior AP Research project, in which she is studying native pollinator gardens.