BALTIMORE, MD (February 19, 2010) – Marylanders are encouraged to nominate environmental champions for the 2010 Tawes Award for a Clean Environment and the James B. Coulter Award. The awards are co-sponsored by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Maryland Petroleum Council.
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 is named for the late Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes, who was also the state’s first secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. For 33 years, the Tawes Award has recognized youth, adults, and organizations involved in the restoration and protection of Maryland's environment.
The James B. Coulter Award, established in 2006, acknowledges environmental contributions by an outstanding government employee. The Award commemorates the outstanding public service of Mr. Coulter who served as Maryland’s second secretary of the Department of Natural Resources from 1971 to 1983.
"Award nominees can be individuals or groups who spend significant time and effort to improve our environment," said MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson. “They roll up their sleeves, dedicate their careers, or otherwise lead and set an example for all of us who want to see real, lasting accomplishments that benefit our communities and all Marylanders.”
Any individual; civic, community, or non-profit organization; environmental professional; government employee or educator who has demonstrated outstanding efforts to enhance Maryland's environment over a period of time or with a single project may be nominated.
Recent winners are:
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 deadline for nominations is April 8, 2010. Nominations may be submitted by email or mail. The awards will be announced in May. For more information and an online nomination form visit http://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Marylander/Pages/tawes_awards.aspx or call Kay Richards at 410-269-1850.
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