Richmond, VA , December 2011: Earth Force and the General Motors Foundation announced the final five winners of the Chevrolet GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) Educator Award. It recognizes educators who integrate environmental education into their school or community curriculums.
“These teachers represent the best of our education system,” said Vivian Pickard, president of the GM Foundation. “By extending their environmental knowledge to tomorrow’s leaders and problem solvers, they help grow our nation’s culture of sustainability and good business practices that strive to reduce our impact on the environment. The winners are:
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Fulece Hughes of Kansas City, Kan. – Hughes is an educator at Northwest Middle School. She involves students, parents and the community in her efforts. Hughes has been involved in STEM projects with the University of Kansas and currently submitted her students’ STEM exhibit project to Battle of the Brains, which is a competition to win help from Burns and McDonnell Engineering Firm to work with the students on their project.
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Kristen Golomb of Pittsburgh, Pa. – Golomb is the Coordinator of Science Programming for Propel Schools, which is a consortium of eight public, urban, charter schools in the Pittsburgh area that provides high-performing options for students and families who otherwise could not afford them. She is an exemplary science coach for our science teachers, kindergarten through grade twelve. Golomb assists with lesson design, lesson plans, selecting and ordering appropriate materials and all facets of science instruction. One of her most valuable contributions is the network of partners dedicated to the environment and ecology that she has created and sustained throughout our eight schools.
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Scott Steensma of Onaway, Mich. – Steensma has launched a secondary Environmental Science class at Onaway High School, in Onaway, Mich., that has truly been an award-winning experience for his students. Students choose projects based upon their area of interest. To date they have written enough winning grant proposals to fund a 1400 square foot greenhouse, start a Sturgeon for Tomorrow program, launch a community recycling center; and modify the school to enable the students to earn a Green Schools designation. The class embodies the principles of authentic service-learning and was chosen as the 2010 Michigan Community Service Commission's School-Based Program of the Year.
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Teddy Dillingham of Arlington, Texas – Dillingham is a naturalist and educator at the River Legacy Nature and Science Center. She has actively led the center and GREEN partnership development in water and environmental science education, integrating STEM and curriculum advancements which significantly benefit local school teaching and testing. She is also the River Legacy's coordinator in the implementation of a new GREEN program for Arlington Independent School District's seventh graders. In partnership with Arlington's General Motors operation and the Arlington School District, this exciting environmental education and community service learning curriculum will allow River Legacy to extend its reach into the city's junior high schools and build on the foundations laid by the environmental education programs.
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William Nieter of New York, N.Y. – Nieter is the Director of the Environmental Studies Program at St. John’s University. In the spring of 1977, the first group of interns from St. John’s University worked at Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC). The partnership between APEC and St. John’s has sustained since this time. As a volunteer, Nieter has served as past President of the Board of Directors three times and currently serves as treasurer. Presently, students serve at Alley Pond for their academic service-learning projects under the direction of Nieter. Students work to clear trails and plant trees all while identifying types of plants and removing invasive species from the preserve. They are learning about the natural environment of New York City while serving their local community.
Recipients will be featured on http://www.greeneducator.org, along with their teaching tools and methods for getting students involved.
“These teachers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to inspire and support their students in taking action to improve their communities,” said Lisa Bardwell, president and CEO of Earth Force. “Each of them has done an exemplary job of incorporating environmental awareness and civic action into formal instruction.”
Supported by the GM Foundation, the Chevrolet GREEN Educator Award honors K-12 classroom teachers, higher education faculty and informal community-based instructors.
GM GREEN is a partnership between General Motors, community-based organizations in GM communities and the nonprofit organization Earth Force. Through the program, young people are challenged to be active community citizens, tackling water quality issues with hands-on science. More than 8,500 students participate every year, and this number will continue to grow as schools see the benefits of watershed-based education and problem solving.
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation had donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.
Earth Force is passionate about young people finding their voice while assuming leadership roles in solving local environmental problems. Earth Force envisions a nation where young people from all walks of life are actively making positive change to the environment at their schools, in their neighborhoods, and in partnership with their communities. Earth Force works to build partnerships across the country, including GM communities. For more information about Earth Force, please visit http://www.earthforce.org.
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