Congratulations to the 2008 USEE Award Winners!

Since 1993, USEE has been recognizing outstanding community members who have made significantly contributions to environmental education (EE) efforts in Utah. Public nominations were held in August of 2008 and the USEE awards committee chose recipients from the following award categories: Environmental Educator, Environmental Education Program, and Environmental Education Volunteer of the Year. This is also the first year that USEE is proud to present the Environmental Education Business of the year award. Award winners were announced at the 19th Annual Utah Environmental Education Conference on September 13, 2008, and will also be honored at USEE's Annual Bash on November 14, 2008.

Award Winners:

Vern A. Fridley Environmental Educator of the Year
Dr. Nikki Hanegan - Brigham Young University

For the past three summers, Dr. Hanegan has overseen the UBEST program (Utah Bio-diversity Experience for Students and Teachers). This program is designed to get teachers out into the field in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to do data collections of plants, insects, and aquatic invertebrates. After a week in the field, the teachers are brought to BYU laboratories to categorize, record, and present their findings. Because of Dr. Hanegan's outstanding work, teachers are able to take their experiences and teach the same real world, in-the-field experiences and science methods to their students.



Environmental Education Program of the Year
The AVES Project - Tracy Aviary

The goal of the AVES (Avian Ecology in Schools) Project is to integrate the allure of birds with the best practices in interdisciplinary science education to inspire youth and adults to better understand, appreciate, and sustain our environment. It is a place-based program drawing on natural intrigue and widespread familiarity of birds to teach, model, and practice science in both the indoor and outdoor classroom. It is a unified and spiraled curriculum combined with professional development, experts in the classroom, field trip assistance, detailed lesson plans, and portfolio assessment. The AVES Project employs the best practices in instructional design, instructional materials, and interactive learning all in the context of where we live. The multiple lesson, depth-over-breadth approach to this program increases the likelihood of real change occuring in student understanding and behavior.

Environmental Education Business of the Year
The Green Building Center

For the first time, USEE is proud to present the award for EE business of the year. The Green Building Center (TGBC) has an extensive product gallery that provides home owners building materials which provide a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound home. TGBC's expert passionate staff takes the time to educate themselves and the public on the benefits of green products, the installation of these products, and how these products will impact the health of your home and the environment. TGBC also hosts informational workshops that educate the general public on the installation and use of the green products they carry. TGBC works with the general public, contractors, architects, and engineers to move forward their agenda of creating sustainable communities along the Wasatch Front.

Environmental Education Volunteer of the Year
Margie Nash - FRIENDS of the Great Salt Lake

Margie Nash has been a dedicated volunteer for FRIENDS of the Great Salt Lake (GSL) for over a year now and has assisted with their Lakeside Learning field trips. Margie has demonstrated an outstanding ability to connect with kids by explaining environmental concepts in a clear and exciting way and by showing an incredible enthusiasm and engagement with her students. During the annual assessment of the program, her input was extremely valuable and her observations were spot-on. At the conclusion of the assessment, Margie assisted in re-developing certain aspects of curriculum to make the introductory activity more dynamic, more outcome-oriented, and ultimately more effective. FRIENDS of the GSL has a much better program because of her service and dedication to the future sustainability of the greater GSL ecosystem.

Congratulations to all of the 2008 USEE Award Winners!