Call for Nominations for the Excellence in Conservation & Environmental Education Awards - DEADLINE JANUARY 31, 2025
The Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) announces the call for nominations for the 2025 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Awards. These awards are presented annually by KACEE to recognize those best exemplifying dedication, commitment, and influence in the field of conservation and environmental education (EE).
There are four categories of awards: John K. Strickler Award for Lifetime Achievement, KACEE Award (for organizations or individuals in PreK-16 Education, Government, Community/Non-Profit Organizations, Agriculture and Business and Industry), Connie Elpers Rising Star Award for environmental educators within their first five years of service and the Kansas Green School of the Year award. Information on these awards may be found below:
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Nominations must be postmarked or e-mailed (ldowney@kacee.org) no later than Friday, JANUARY 31, 2025.
A selection committee reviews applications and determines awardees, who will be notified no later than Friday, February 14, 2025.
Awards will be presented at the Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Celebration in Manhattan on Friday, April 4, 2025.
For more information and to request or submit a nomination form, contact Laura Downey, KACEE, 2610 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS 66502-2743; phone (785) 532-3322; e-mail ldowney@kacee.org.
E-mail nominations will be accepted provided all information requested is included. Please do not fax nominations. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
For more information on the awards criteria and for nomination forms, please visit: http://www.kacee.org/ee-awards
AWARD CATEGORIES & CRITERIA
John K. Strickler Award
Criteria:
This award recognizes the lifetime achievements of the recipient in the field of conservation and environmental education (EE). The nominee must have a minimum of ten (10) years’ involvement in the field of EE in general and if appropriate, involvement with KACEE as well, and have made and continues to make a significant contribution to EE in Kansas. S/he should be known for one or more of the following:
Dedicated current and long-term service in the field of EE in general and/or as a KACEE member (e.g., developed curriculum, research, innovations, publications, programs, legislation, etc.)
Outstanding action, contribution, and leadership in supporting EE
To nominate a person for this award, submit the Nomination Form and a narrative of no more than two (2) pages (~1,000 words) that includes the following information:
Contributions the nominee has made to the field of EE in Kansas and if appropriate to KACEE.
The nominee’s long-term (at least ten (10) years) service in the field of conservation and/or environmental education through their profession/organization and community involvement.
How the nominee’s contributions have impacted his/her colleagues, workplace, and other groups and organizations.
KACEE Award
Criteria:
This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations, agencies, community efforts, schools, and businesses in the field of EE. The nominee must have a minimum of five (5) years’ involvement in the field of EE, and have made and continues to make a significant contribution to EE in Kansas. Nominations may be made in the categories below:
PreK-16 Education: School or individual in a formal education setting may be nominated.
Government: Individual or agency may be nominated.
Community and Non-Profit Organizations: Individual or organization may be nominated.
Agriculture: Individual or organization that leads/encourages programs that educate about agricultural best management practices may be nominated.
Business/Corporate Sector: Individual, business, or corporation may be nominated.
The nominee should be known for one or more of the following:
Dedicated current and long-term service in the field of EE (e.g., developed curriculum, research, innovations, publications, programs, legislation, etc.)
Creating a work environment that incorporates EE (e.g., volunteerism by employees, using recycled and environmentally-friendly products, collaboration and/or funding of EE initiatives outside the organization)
Outstanding action, contribution, and leadership in supporting EE
To make a nomination for this award in any of the categories, submit the Nomination Form and a narrative of no more than two (2) pages (~1,000 words) that includes the following information:
Contributions the nominee has made to the field of EE in Kansas.
The nominee’s long-term (at least five (5) years’) service in the field of conservation and/or environmental education through their organization and community involvement.
How the nominee has created a work environment that incorporates conservation and/or environmental education.
Any additional information you would like to include that supports your nomination within the required page limitation.
Connie Elpers Rising Star Award
Criteria:
Named after one of the most influential environmental educators in Kansas, Connie shared her love and passion for teaching about the environment with thousands of people, both young and old. With a seemingly inexhaustible energy for teaching about the environment, Connie embodied the best of our field and was an outstanding example to the young people she mentored.
This award honors Connie’s legacy in recognizing those passionate individuals who are new to the conservation and environmental education field in Kansas, but are already making an impact. The nominee must have a minimum of two (2) years’ and a maximum of five (5) years’ experience in the EE field in Kansas. Current KACEE membership is not required. The nominee should be known for one or more of the following:
Developed and/or implemented at least one ongoing EE program in Kansas
Innovative and enthusiastic application of EE tools or best practices
Shares ideas and techniques with colleagues
Collaborates with the greater EE community
Outstanding action, contribution, and leadership in supporting EE
To nominate a person for this award, submit the Nomination Form, a resume or vitae for the nominee that does not exceed two (2) pages , and a narrative of no more than two (2) pages (~1,000 words) that includes the following information:
A description of the program the nominee has developed or implemented.
How the nominee exhibits innovation and enthusiastic application of EE tools or best practices.
How the nominee shares ideas and techniques with colleagues and collaborates with the greater EE community.
How the nominee’s contributions have impacted his/her colleagues, workplace, and other groups and organizations.
Any additional information you would like to include that supports your nomination within the required page limitation.
Kansas Green School of the Year Award
Criteria:
This award recognizes Kansas public and private schools that have demonstrated innovation, leadership, whole school involvement, and an integrated, holistic, sustainable approach to implementing environmental projects with a strong environmental education component into their schools.
Individual schools nominated for this award must be members of the Kansas Green Schools Network (registration is free and can be attained at www.kansasgreenschools.org). Current KACEE membership is not required. Nominations in the elementary school and middle/high school categories are encouraged, and the selection committee reserves the right to make awards (in one or both categories) to those schools best meeting the criteria. Nominees should be known for the following:
Researched, designed, and implemented at least one ongoing environmental program at their school within the past three (3) years that innovatively addresses an environmental issue(s) (e.g., water quality, water conservation, energy conservation, air quality, outdoor wildlife habitats, solid waste management)
Strong environmental education component integrated across school curriculum and grade levels, and sustained from year to year
Shows leadership in sharing information about their projects with parents, the local community, and other schools
Demonstrates deep involvement by administrators, teachers, and students in the environmental project(s) and environmental education program
Takes an integrated, holistic, and sustainable approach to implementing environmental education and an environmental project(s) in the school.
To nominate a school for this award, submit the Nomination Form and a narrative of no more than two (2) pages (~1,000 words) that addresses the criteria and describes the following:
A description of the environmental project(s) the nominee has researched, designed, and implemented, including why the nominee took the action to implement the project
A description of what environmental education curriculum is taught and how it is incorporated into the curriculum
How the nominee shares information about its project(s) and environmental education program with others
How administrators, teachers, students, and the community are involved
A demonstration of commitment by the nominee to sustain and increase its efforts to improve the environment and incorporate environmental education into the school curriculum.
HOW TO MAKE A NOMINATION:
To nominate an individual, organization, agency, community effort, school, or business, please complete the form on this page. Please read the form carefully to ensure all information required is submitted. Incomplete nominations will not be considered. (Please submit one form per nomination)
Please contact Laura Downey at ldowney@kacee.org with questions.
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