EQC's 2007 Earth Day award ceremony was held on April 20, 2007, at McConnell Springs in Lexington. The Environmental Quality Commission honored 10 individuals/organizations for outstanding efforts to enhance and protect our environment.
Doug Keaton and the E-3 Team - Doug Keaton and his Efficient Electrical Energy (E-3) class explore the science of energy with a focus on environmental awareness. The students have educated their community about energy efficiency and have built a wind turbine to be installed at their school.
Scott Shupe - Scott Shupe was recognized for over 35 years of wildlife, nature and environmental conservation education. He designed and managed an educational/recreational environmental education outreach facility toured by thousands annually. Shupe was also the creator, co-producer and host of the “In the Wild” television series.
Rich Detzel - Rich Detzel is curator of a nature program called “Windows into the Wild," which consists of three sessions that include a fall visit to his 100-acre Nature Academy, a winter visit to the school and a return spring visit to the Nature Academy. Included in his curriculum are survival skills, including edible plant identification; Kentucky historical figures, including Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton and Abraham Lincoln; water quality protection; and Native American history.
Tom Biebighauser - Tom Biebighauser received an Earth Day award for his work as a tireless volunteer, gifted educator and leader in wetland restoration whose expertise is sought internationally.
James Rice - James Rice was recognized by EQC for cleaning up creeks, roads and graveyards for the past 50 years. An active participant in the Ohio River Sweep for the last 15 years, he’s known as “The Motivator” by the Boone County Division of Solid Waste Management Services.
Robert Lape - As architect and facilities director of Kenton County schools, Robert Lape supervised the design and construction of two schools (Caywood Elementary and Twenhofel Middle) that are models of environmental stewardship and education.
Andre Barrie - Andre Barrie was recognized for starting a small recycling program at his school in Nelson County that sparked a countywide recycling program for residential customers.
Stephen Main and the Dry Ridge Wal-Mart - Under Stephen Main’s management, the Dry Ridge Wal-Mart has instituted several environmentally sound practices, such as providing in-store recycling receptacles for citizens to drop off household recyclables and promoting the use and sale of sustainable products including compact fluorescent lights.
Leslie Cole (Public Service Award) - During Leslie Cole's tenure as the executive director of the EQC she produced numerous publications on environmental issues in Kentucky; conducted policy analysis and research on environmental trends and related issues; created the first objective set of indicators of environmental health and quality; generated newsletters and reports and solicited grants for the commission; coordinated public meetings, roundtables and forums to facilitate public discussion; and represented public interests on various committees including membership on Biodiversity Task Force, Green Schools Committee and Children’s Environmental Health Workgroup.
Winifred Hepler (Lifetime Achievement Award) - Winifred Hepler has been agitating for clean air, clean water and habitat protection since 1970. She has been a tireless advocate for the environment, instrumental in recycling efforts, watershed protection and public outreach in the Louisville area for over 40 years.
