BALTIMORE, MD (March 9, 2011) – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Tawes Award for a Clean Environment and for the James B. Coulter Award.
The Tawes Award recognizes individuals, civic, community, and non-profit groups that have demonstrated outstanding efforts to enhance Maryland’s environment over a period of time or with a single project. The award, being given for the 34th year, is named for J. Millard Tawes, governor of Maryland from 1959 to 1967 and the first secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. There are separate categories for youngsters and adults.
Nominations are also being accepted for the James B. Coulter Award, named in honor of Maryland’s second Secretary of Natural Resources. That award, established in 2006, acknowledges outstanding environmental contributions by a government employee.
The awards are co-sponsored by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Maryland Petroleum Council.
“We encourage Marylanders to nominate their champions of the environment for these awards,” said MDE Acting Secretary Robert M. Summers. “This is our chance to recognize the individuals and groups making a real, lasting difference in protecting and restoring our environment – and setting an example for all of us.”
The deadline for nominations for either award is April 8. Nomination forms are available on MDE’s website, and may be submitted by email to TAWES.AWARD@maryland.gov or by mail to: Maryland Department of the Environment, Land Management Administration, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 610, Baltimore MD 21230, Attention: Jennifer Hopper - Tawes Award.
This is the 34th year that the Tawes Award has been presented. Recent winners of the Tawes and Coulter awards are:
2010 Tawes Award
- Stephen Hult, London Towne Property Owners Association
- The Greenanators from Sunset Elementary School in Anne Arundel County
2010 Coulter Award
Mark Ecker, MDE’s Water Management Compliance Program
2009 Tawes Award
- The Dorchester County Resource Protection and Development Corporation
- Green Valley Earthology Club from Green Valley Elementary School in Frederick County
2009 Coulter Award
- Dan Savino, Physics Teacher, Poolesville High School’s Global Ecology Magnet Program
2008 Tawes Award
- Joan Plisko, Technical Director of Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (MD H2E) and Community Environmental Leader
- Kennard Elementary School’s Advanced Ecology Students
2008 Coulter Award
- John Sparrow, Field Studies Coordinator, Poolesville High School’s Global Ecology Magnet Program
The 2011 awards will be announced in May. For more information email or call MDE’s Office of Communications at 410-537-3003 or the Maryland Petroleum Council at 410-269-1850.
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