KAEE Awards
KAEE Excellence in Environmental Education Awards
Previous Award Winners
KAEE Excellence Awards
“When a teacher goes above and beyond the call of duty and truly
makes a difference in a child’s life they deserve special recognition.”
Are you (or someone you know) making a difference in environmental education? Why not nominate them for the KAEE Excellence In Environmental Education Award?
We are looking for activities that raise public awareness about EE, involves collaborative working relationships with partners, educates about environmental issues in the local community, development of sustainable environmental projects, enhances critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
Nominations may be for individuals, groups or outstanding projects.
The 2010 Award Nominations are now closed.
Any questions or comments may be directed to:
Melinda Wilder
Division of Natural Areas – 105 Case Annex
Eastern Kentucky University
521 Lancaster Ave Richmond, KY 40475
859-622-1476
Email Melinda here
Click here for a printable PDF version if you wish to mail the form.
All submissions should be emailed to jeanine.huss@wku.edu and/or Melinda.Wilder@eku.edu.
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Each year the KAEE presents 3 awards for Excellence in Environmental Education. This year, we received many outstanding nominations revealing the fantastic work that is being done throughout the state.
The winners for the 2008 awards include Yvonne Meichtry for Outstanding Individual, The Lexington Wastebusters for Outstanding Program, and Southwestern High School Conservation Club for Outstanding Organization.
Winner of the Outstanding Individual Award
- Amanda Patrick
- Amanda Patrick Amanda is the Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery. Although she performs that job amazingly well by continually offering a slew of wonderful programs, it only begins to explain the phenomenal job she does in advancing environmental education throughout Kentucky. Amanda helped to bring We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition) to Kentucky. We Can! is a national education program designed to help children stay at a healthy weight. To further the goals of We Can!, she helped to organize a community gathering of mayors, physicians, and key stakeholders including the Kentucky Environmental Education Council, KAEE, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is just one example of her ability to work with diverse groups to accomplish a task.Amanda has been a strong asset while serving on the KAEE Board of Directors, always willing to enthusiastically help out. Any task that she is involved with is completed professionally and on time. She has a thoroughly busy and diverse background in environmental and outdoor education. Amanda is easily described as well-rounded and well-connected!
Her upbeat attitude and willingness to help are evident to anyone who has spent time around her. Amanda’s friendliness and kind words lift up everyone within earshot! As we all know, teaching and planning new programs is hard work, but Amanda always seems to stay fresh and excited to tackle the next project. Kentucky is lucky to have Amanda on its side!
Winner of the Outstanding Program Award
- At the close of the last academic year, each of the eight state university’s Centers for Environmental Education chose three schools and identified the three teachers to train and participate in the Earth Force model of Community Action and Problem Solving (CAPS). Kelli Lee from Grant County Middle School happily jumped on board.When she started working with her 3rd hour class, there was no turning back. They first identified the community in which they would work (their school), conducted inventories to learn of their school’s strengths and weaknesses, and finally picked an issue. They chose to tackle paper recycling, since so much waste was being produced and nothing was being done to minimize the amount of paper leaving school grounds. The students then researched policy and community practice to understand how and why existing procedures were in place. They found out that their project must be completed without additional cost to the school. They con-tac ted Abitibi as the best company to handle paper recycling. Although Abitibi didn’t service Grant County, the students helped to convince Abitibi to give them the opportunity. Abitibi agreed, but only if all of the schools in Grant County participated. Not only did all of Grant County Schools agree, but they also brought on board some of the local businesses!The students didn’t stop there. They created jingles to put on a local radio commercial, appeared on a local access TV channel, arranged for promotional paper drives, and worked to get donations for bins in each of the classrooms. Thanks to Mrs. Lee and her students, paper is now being recycled instead of being hauled to the local landfill. Moving beyond this project, they also decided to sign up as a candidate school for the KY Green and Healthy Schools program. The team-work, motivation, and hard-working spirit of the students can be a lesson to us all. Mrs. Lee is planning to continue the Earth Force process at Grant County because she saw how valuable this program was in her classroom, especially to her students. Grant County, Mrs. Lee, and all of her wonderful students share a vision for a better place to live!
Winner of the Outstanding Organization Award
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Environmental Education Center | Nature Trail
- Since its inception in 2007, more than 3000 students have participated in the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Environmental Education Center and Nature Trail. The environmental education center is located on the site where nearly 500,000 vehicles are manufactured each year in TMMK’s zero-landfill facility. Students are welcomed with a mile-long nature trail packed with educational activities that incorporate KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act) standards, as well as those set by the North American Association for Environmental Education. Students learn how TMMK works hard to protect the air, water, and land through various stewardship activities, while also discovering the benefit of native forbs, the defensive nature of bluebirds, and the historical significance of Kentucky ‘cane’. Schools often have lunch here, and afterwards a lesson teaches each student how to sort their waste the same way Toyota team members do everyday.To help students prepare in the classroom prior to their field trip, TMMK partnered with Bluegrass PRIDE in 2007 to design a complementary KERA- aligned curriculum for grades 4 – 8. In early 2008, a group of high school teachers were selected to complete the lineup by organizing a curriculum for grades 9 – 12. Core-content is built into multiple hands-on activities, along with real life connections to TMMK. Activities are condensed into four units- Water, Waste, Energy, and Air- with each designed to broaden awareness of environmental issues, stewardship, and science.
In fall 2008, TMMK began offering transportation reimbursements up to $300 for visiting schools that demonstrate interest in environmental education and have significant financial disadvantage. Reimbursements are funded from profits generated from TMMK’s Visitor Center Gift Shop. Other outreach activities have included promotion at the Kentucky State Fair, programs at local schools, professional development workshops for teachers, and a field day hosting 120 second graders.
- Ongoing partnerships continue to be elemental to the program’s development and sustainability. Collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has facilitated various habitat restoration projects on TMMK’s nature trail. Other partners include Kentucky Environmental Education Council, Bluegrass PRIDE, Scott County Schools, and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Thanks to the support from these groups, TMMK was accredited by the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2008 by receiving international inductions into the ‘Wildlife at Work’ and ‘Corporate Lands for Learning’ programs.
It’s not too early to start thinking about the 2010 awards. If you know any individuals or organizations doing exceptional work, please nominate them, (or nominate them again) and help us honor them.
PAST WINNERS
2008 Award Winners
Individual
Dr. Yvonne Meichtry
Program
Lexington Wastebusters
Organization
Southwestern High School Conservation Club
2007 Award Winners
Individual
Doug McLaren, University of Kentucky’s Extension Service
Program
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest/Training for Naturalists Program
Organization
Catlettsburg Refining, LLC for the Savage Branch Wildlife Reserve
2006 Award Winners
Individual
Evelyn Morgan, USDA Forest Service, Daniel Boone National Forest
Program
The Louisville Science Center, “The World Around Us” exhibit
Organization
The American Cave Conservation Association, Horse Cave, KY – Dave Foster,
Director
2005 Award Winners
Individual
Regina Sizemore, High School Science Teacher – Whitesburg High School, Letcher
County
Program
The Kentucky Bluebird Society Outdoor Classroom Enrichment Program – Bob Ivy
(President), Ed Ray (Education Director)
Organization
Sanitation District #1 – Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties
2004 Award Winners
Individual
Beverly McDavid, 7th & 8th grade science teacher at Elliott County
High School
Program
The Laurel Gorge Cultural Heritage Center -Elliott County, KY
Organization
Blackacre Environmental Education Program -Donna Griffin, Bryan Thompson,
and Kandris Wunderlick
2003 Award Winners
Individual
Mike Broderick -Webmaster, Jefferson County Public Schools
Program
Karen P. Reagor, Director – Kentucky National Energy Education Development
(NEED) Project
Organization
Kelly Dearing Smith – Adventures in Water, Louisville Water Company
2002 Award Winners
Individual
Doug Travis, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Program
Kentucky State Fair Board – “A Water Odyssey” and
2002: “A Land Odyssey” – Environmental Education Exhibits (Harold
Workman & Stephanie Darst)
Organization
Sanitation District #1 of Northern KY (Peggy Ziegler & Katie Barlage)
2001 Award Winners
Region 1
Johnny Herndon, Assistant Director of Transportation, Murray State
University
Region 2
Merri Hinton, Media Specialist, South Todd Elementary School, Guthrie,
KY
Region 3
Louisville Nature Center, Louisville, KY
Region 4
Reeda Hart, Grant’s Lick Elementary School, Grant’s Lick,
KY
Region 5
Adventures in Learning Programs in Science (ALPS), Terry Rhodes and
Dr. Robert Haynes, McNabb Middle School, Mt. Sterling, KY
Region 6
Judy Lynn Adkins, Model Middle School, Richmond, KY
Region 7
Glenna Perkins, Rowan County Conservation District, Morehead, KY
Region 8
Sheila Varney and Robert Osborne, Pike County Schools
Statewide Media
Lexington Herald
Statewide Individual
Jennifer Turner, Kentucky Division of Forestry
Statewide Program
Kentucky Forest Leadership Program University of Kentucky Extension
Program (Doug McLaren and Laurie Taylor)
2000 Award Winners
Region 1/ Region 2
West Kentucky Corporation
Region 3
Hess, Westport Middle School
Region 4
Iris Brown, Simpsonville Elementary School
Region 5
Judy Creech, 4-H Assistant
Region 6
Jim Hayes, The Nature Conservancy
Region 8
S. T. A. R.’ s students
1999 Award Winners
Region 1
A. B. Chandler Elementary School, Corydon
Region 2
Environmental Education Staff, Mammoth Cave National Park – Sharon
Ganci, Coordinator
Region 3
Vera Y. Prater, Science Lab Teacher, Fern Creek Elementary School,
Louisville
Region 4
Dr. William S. Bryant, Thomas More College, Edgewood
Region 5
Ken Cooke, Water Watch Coordinator, Kentucky Division of Water, Frankfort
Region 6
Debbie Liford, Lay Elementary School, Barbourville
1997 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Caryn Walker, Wheatley Elemetary
Lee Daniel Newbury, Model Lab School – EKU
Billy Shaw Blankenship – Lincoln County High School
Russ Barnett, U of L KY Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development
Student
Emily Thomas, Murray Kentucky
Public Official
Jane Wilson, Kentucky Environmental Education Council
Nonformal Education
Kurt Mason, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Organization
Americorp, McKee, Jackson
1996 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Ronetta Alcorn, Clearfield Elementary, Clearfield
Kevin Welch, Newburg Middle School, Louisville
Lucian Doyle, Fairdale High School, Louisville
Dr. Steven Spencer, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
Student
Katherine Swagger, Dupont-Manual High School, Louisville
Administrator
Cloyd J. Baumgardner, Calloway Middle School, Murray
Public Official
Mike McCombs, LaRue County Solid Waste Coordinator
Nonformal Education
Bryan Thompson, Blackacre State Nature Preserve, JCPS Center for EE,
Jefferson Co.
Barbie Bruker- Corwin, Louisville Nature Center, Louisville
Organization
Kentucky Resource Council, Frankfort
1995 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Rhonda Hale, Liberty Elementary, Oldham Co.
Bonnie Swaim, Liberty Elementary, Oldham Co.
Janice Straw, St. Bernards Catholic School, Louisville
Susan Robinson, St. Bernards Catholic School, Louisville
Stephanie Wyatt, Calloway Co. Comprehensive, Murray
Dr. Richard Shore, E’Town Community College, E’Town
Student
Jennifer Schwager, Assumption High School, Louisville
Administrator
Jim Fegenbush, Environmental Services, JCPS, Jefferson Co.
Public Official
Rodney Hitch, Rowan Co. Solid Waste Coordinator, Morehead
Nonformal Education
Steven Bonney, Wildlife Biologist, KY Fish & Wildlife, Morehead
Organization
Louisville Gas & Electric, Louisville
1994 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Claudia George, Dunn Elementary School, Louisville
Sheila Yule, St. Francis of Assisi School, Louisville
Sandy Kissling, Seneca High School, Louisville
Allan Dittmer, University of Louisville, School of Educ.
Student
Becky Hufft, DuPont Manual High School, Louisville
Public Official
Gordon Gardner, Metropolitan Sewer District, Jefferson Co.
Nonformal Education
John Tierney, KY Park Naturalist, Carter Caves State Park, Olive Hill
Organization
Blackacre State Nature Preserve, Jeffersontown
1993 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Cathy Duncanson and Kathy Wigginton, St. Helen School, Jefferson Co.
Anna Bruce Kostelnik, Clark Middle School, Clark Co.
Debbie Boyken, Tom Hall, and Sharon Knight, McClean County High School, McClean
Co.
Administrator
Mary Kathryn Schwanholt, Boone Co.
Non-Formal
Trista Claxon, Lafayette High School, Fayette Co.
Organization
Environmental Quality Commission, Leslie Cole, Franklin Co.
1992 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Don Wigginton, Wheatley Elem., Jefferson Co.
Tim Brennan, Bruce Middle School, Jefferson Co.
Sandy Kissling, Male High School, Jefferson Co.
Ruth Jacquot, Murray State Univ., Calloway Co.
Administrator
Dr. Tom Crawford, Univ. of Louisville, Jefferson Co.
Non-Formal
Lynn Garrison, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Franklin Co.
Public Official
Ann Seppenfield, Ky Dept of Education, Franklin Co.
Organization
Casey Co. Wildlife Conservation Club, Francis Carter, Casey Co.
1991 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Mary Holden, Byck Elementary, Jefferson Co.
Donna Keller, Murray Middle School, Calloway Co.
Maxine Rudder, Laurel Co. High School, Laurel Co.
Terry Wilson, Western KY Univ., Warren Co.
Administrator
Deborah Williamson, Frankfort Juvenile Serv., Franklin Co.
Non-Formal
Karen Armstrong-Cummings, Council of State Gov., Franklin Co.
Public Official
Susan Stokes, Representative 48th Dist., Jefferson Co.
Organization
Louisville Nature & Cons. Center, Nancy Theiss, Jeff. Co.
1990 KAEE Award Winners
Public Official
Senator Gerald Neal, Ky Senate, 33rd District
1989 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Shaw Blankenship, Lincoln Co. High School, Lincoln Co.
Jan Wolanin, St. Francis of Goshen, Oldham Co.
Administrator
Dr. Glenn Crumb, Western KY University, Warren Co.
Non-Formal
Townley Bergman, KY Division of Forestry, Franklin Co.
Distinquished Service
Gerald Caldwell, Environmental Education Center, Whitley Co.
1988 KAEE Award Winners
Teacher
Betty Stokes, Shelby Elementary, Jefferson Co.
Angela Wilson, Hustonville Elementary, Lincoln Co.
Mary Rogers, Pine Mountain Settlement School, Harlan Co.
Afton Garrison, Pine Mt. Settlement School, Harlan Co.
Administrator
Ann Seppenfield, Ky Dept. of Education, Franklin Co.
Non-Formal
Horace Brown, Environmental Quality Comm., Franklin Co.
Public Office
Mayor Jerry Abramson, Louisville, Jefferson Co.
Distinguished Service
Charlie Crail, US Forest Service, Clark Co.
Member of the Year
David Wicks, Project ID JCPS, Jefferson Co.
Excellence in Environmental Education Awards Nomination
Awards Categories:
1. Outstanding Individual
2. Program/project
3. Organization in the field of environmental education
Who is eligible?
Awards will be selected from nominees from the state of Kentucky at large by the awards committee.
A list of past award winners can be found here.
How is someone nominated?
Any individual can make nominations. Fill out the form below, then describe the nominee’s contribution to “Excellence in Environmental Education”.
Include all information necessary to enable the Awards Committee to evaluate this information. One page of supporting documentation may be included.
The voice for Environmental Education in Kentucky
KAEE is working to build a sustainable environment through education
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Donations are greatly appreciated and tax deductible.