EQC's 2003 Earth Day award ceremony was held on April 14, 2003, at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort. The Environmental Quality Commission honored 15 examples in which people and organizations are making a difference.
Ale-8-One - Ale-8-One, a soft drink unique to Kentucky, has been bottled in Winchester since 1926. This company operates one of only two returnable-bottle lines left in Kentucky. The returnable bottles are used locally in 35 Kentucky counties, and the company averages 1,500 cases of bottles returned daily. The EQC commends Frank Rogers, president, CEO and owner of Ale-8-One, for continuing his company's tradition of being a fine Kentucky soft drink and a responsible steward of our environment.
Barbara Kingsolver - Barbara Kingsolver was born in Maryland but grew up in Eastern Kentucky. She has written nine books that celebrate human nature and nature itself. Her books immerse us in the mountains and small farms of southern Appalachia to the jungles of Africa. Ms. Kingsolver brings a writer's eye to better understanding our natural world and our role in it through compelling stories filled with wit, humor, truth and hope.
Chemical Weapons Working Group - In 1984 when Kentuckians learned that the munitions stored at the Bluegrass Army Depot were slated for incineration, Berea incineration opponent Craig Williams and others formed the Chemical Weapons Working Group. The Army preferred to dispose of the roughly 523 tons of mustard gas, Sarin and VX by incinerating the deadly chemicals. The Working Group supported alternative technologies that essentially neutralize the nerve agents and present fewer risks of public exposure. In 2003, due in part to the efforts of the Working Group, the Army announced that it would use chemical neutralization to destroy the chemical munitions stored at the Bluegrass Army Depot.
Donna Griffin - Donna Griffin has worked for the Jefferson County Public Schools Center for Environmental Education since the early 1990s. Ms. Griffin is responsible for planning the curriculum at Blackacre State Nature Preserve and for interfacing with the teachers who bring their students for educational field study programs. EQC is pleased to recognize Donna Griffin for her work to engage students in the real world learning through discovery and exploration.
Donna Herndon and Bill Wells - Through their work with Family Resource Centers, Donna Herndon and Bill Wells developed the "Make a Difference Day" recycling program for Murray and Calloway County. These recycling program events are held quarterly and offer residents the opportunity to recycle items such as paper, aluminum cans, clothes, motor oil, eyeglasses, cell phones, inkjet cartridges and many other items. This very positive program continues to grow due to the fine leadership of Ms. Herndon and Mr. Wells. The citizens of Murray and Calloway County are fortunate to have such dedicated community advocates.
Green River Partnership - The Green River is one of the top four river systems in the United States in terms of its diversity supporting 151 freshwater fishes, 59 mussels and an unparalleled collection of cave flora and fauna. But as rich as the river is, it is also vulnerable. Thirty-five of the river's aquatic species are considered imperiled. Thanks to an extraordinary partnership, the future of the river looks brighter. The Nature Conservancy is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to alter the operation of the Green River Dam and restore natural flow regimes to benefit wildlife. This project demonstrates that when we work together we can make a tremendous difference in restoring and protecting some of Kentucky's most important natural habitats while meeting human needs.
Helen Alexander - Helen Alexander, founder of the Bluegrass Conservancy, has set out to promote the conservation and preservation of the region's unique rural and cultural resources. She has donated her property's development rights to the Bluegrass Conservancy, ensuring that the land is never used for housing or other developmental uses. The donation is one of several that have protected more than 1,889 acres of farmland in Woodford, Jessamine, Clark and Fayette counties.
Hopkins County 4-H Environmental Camp - The Hopkins County 4-H Environmental Camp is a shining example of how several groups came together to build environmental awareness among the youth of the county. Organizations including Hopkins County Extension Council, Extension Office and its staff members, 4-H Council, West Hopkins Accelerated School and Hall Street Youth Development Services planned, funded and implemented an Environmental Education Camp at the West Kentucky 4-H Camp in Dawson Springs.
Jordan O'Rylee and Dinsmore Homestead - As education director for the Dinsmore Homestead, Jordan O'Rylee saw the opportunity to integrate the history of the Dinsmore Homestead and the environment with student and family responsibility. By using a variety of hands-on investigative activity stations, she has incorporated fun and learning with history and environmental responsibility.
Katie Poston and Kayla Lancaster - In 2003, Katie Poston and Kayla Lancaster, fifth-graders at Burlington Elementary School, were surprised to learn that their school did not recycle. They made a presentation to the Burlington Elementary Site-Based Council to encourage the school to adopt a recycling program. When Katie and Kayla became sixth-graders at Conner Middle School, they continued to promote recycling at Burlington Elementary by making presentations concerning the recycling program to the second- through fifth-grade classes.
Kentucky Envirothon - The Envirothon idea is simple - combine the proven concepts of hands-on education with the excitement of a good competition and the fun of spending a day in the outdoors. Envirothon encourages a constantly changing curriculum and helps to build strong ties between schools and the organizations that can help them teach a practical, interdisciplinary brand of environmental awareness. It's an exciting program that has attracted wide community involvement and grown rapidly throughout Kentucky. The result is an effective educational tool that will help nurture environmentally aware students.
Morehead State University Environmental Awareness Club - While canoeing on Tygarts Creek in Carter County, MSU senior Erica Schuler was alarmed to see hundreds of tires littering the area. She and other members of the Environmental Awareness Club organized the first-ever cleanup of Tygarts Creek. Thanks to the efforts of the Environmental Awareness Club, Tygarts Creek is cleaner and canoeists can now enjoy a paddling experience as nature intended. Erica and the club have proven that a small group of people with a noble idea, strong determination and a lot of muscle can truly make a difference in our world.
Ockerman Elementary School - Ockerman Elementary is a suburban school nestled in the strip malls and commerce surrounding Interstate 75 in northern Kentucky. The school is surrounded by flower and butterfly gardens, birdhouses and feeders and other outdoor education facilities that are used to teach various subjects. The school's outdoor classroom and environmental program have improved students' test scores and have infused enthusiasm for both teaching and learning using the world outside. The school's teaching teams have become so accomplished at teaching environmental topics that they now provide professional development for other schools and teachers.
Dr. Larry D. Shinn (Public Service Award) - As president of Berea College, Dr. Larry Shinn has embarked on what he calls a "bold and courageous" project that will convert a college campus into a sustainable community. The Berea College Ecovillage will be an integrated and continuous learning community showing how humans can live simply and in harmony with our natural world. The Ecovillage will incorporate a wide range of ecological designs including passive solar heating, super insulation, composting toilets and built-in recycling and compost units. President Shinn's commitment to move toward a more sustainable campus and ultimately to help the region become more sustainable will drive Kentucky into the 21st century.
W. Horace Brown (Lifetime Achievement Award) - Horace Brown represents all that is good in Kentucky. He is a devoted father, a loyal friend and a staunch defender of our wildlife and natural resources. Horace served on the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission for 16 years, 14 of those as chairman. He helped champion the need for more environmental education, resulting in the creation of the Environmental Education Council. As chair of the council, he volunteered his time to provide leadership and support in the development of an Environmental Education Master Plan recommending critical strategies for improving environmental literacy in Kentucky. Mr. Brown's actions have had a tremendous impact on improving environmental protection and awareness across the commonwealth.
