|
|
Club leaders gather to present
2003 National Awards
A photographer whose pictures of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge created
a national controversy, a congressman who helped protect California’s
Big Sur, a woman who has climbed more than 4,200 peaks, and a radio host
were among
those honored recently with national awards from the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club’s highest honor, the John Muir Award, which honors a distinguished
record of achievement, was given to Vivian Newman, a volunteer from Maine who
has spent two decades working to protect the integrity of our nation’s
coasts, waters and wetlands.
Subhankar Banerjee, a former Boeing engineer from Bellevue, Washington, is
the recipient of a Special Achievement Award for the publication of his book, "Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life." Banerjee left his job to spend
14 months taking pictures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He was catapulted
into the national spotlight this spring when an exhibition of his work at the
Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History was mysteriously
moved from the rotunda to the basement, setting off a flurry of articles
in such prominent
publications as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek,
and others.
Other Special Achievement Awards went to Gina Carola of Westville, New Jersey,
and Marilyn Wall of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and Benjamin Brumberg, former ombudsman for
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, were recognized with Distinguished
Service Awards, honoring persons in public service for strong and consistent
commitment to conservation.
Steve Curwood of National Public Radio received the David Brower Award for
environmental journalism. Curwood hosts the weekly "Living on Earth" program,
which is heard on more than 230 National Public Radio stations.
Representative Sam Farr (D-Calif.) received the Edgar Wayburn Award, which honors
service to the environment by a person in government.
"
At a time when there is an all out assault on clean air, clean water, and wilderness,
Representative Farr has shown extraordinary leadership in the environmental field,
both locally and nationally," said Sierra Club President Larry Fahn.
Farr sponsored the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002, which
gave permanent
protection to the last unprotected federal lands in the Big Sur backcountry.
Barbara Lilley of Simi Valley, California, was recognized for her mountaineering
accomplishments, which include reaching more than 4,200 different summits from
the Sierra Nevada to Africa. Lilley was one of the first women to climb Mount
McKinley (now Denali) in Alaska. She received the Francis P. Farquhar Mountaineering
Award.
The Ansel Adams Award for conservation photography went to Douglas Steakley of
Carmel, California, for his photography of Big Sur.
Isaac Hall of Maui received the William O. Douglas Award for contributions in
the field of environmental law. Over the past 25 years, Hall has litigated more
cases on behalf of the environment than any other attorney in Hawaii.
The Environmental Alliance Award, which includes a $1,000 prize from the
Joseph Barbosa Earth Fund, was awarded to the Winyah Group of the Sierra
Club’s
South Carolina Chapter. The Group was recognized for its work with other
organizations to protect the waters of the Waccamaw River and its watershed,
which straddles
the South Carolina/North Carolina border.
A new award for 2003, the Madelyn Pyeatt Award, was given to Madelyn Pyeatt of
Bellingham, Washington. This award recognizes the contributions of Club members
working with youth. Pyeatt led more than 500 outings for inner city children
in the San Francisco Bay Area before recently moving to Washington.
Others awards:
The EarthCare Award, honoring an individual, organization, or agency that has
made a unique contribution to international environmental protection and conservation:
The International POPS Elimination Network (IPEN).
The Electronic Communication Award: Christopher Kelley of Hudson, New Hampshire.
Newsletter Award: The Mackinac (published by the Michigan Chapter) and the Desert
Report (published by the California/Nevada Desert Committee).
The Oliver Kehrlein Award for outstanding service to the Club’s Outings
program: Rudy Scheffer of Safety Harbor, Florida.
The One Club Award, recognizing people who use outings as a way to instill an
interest in conservation and protecting public lands: Robert Keane of Miliani,
Hawaii.
The Raymond Sherwin International Award for international conservation: Carolyn
Carr of Auburn, Alabama.
Special Service Awards for strong and consistent commitment to conservation over
an extended period of time: David Raney of Honolulu, Hawaii; Brian Scherf of
Hollywood, Florida; Susie Shields of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and the late Jim
Stephens of Hapeville, Georgia.
The Susan E. Miller Award for outstanding service to Sierra Club chapters: Julia
Bott of San Mateo, California; and Ralph Salisbury of Riverside, California.
The Walter A. Starr Award, for continuing support of the Club by a former director:
Ann Pogue of Solano Beach, California, and Tony Ruckel of Denver, Colorado.
For more, visit www. sierraclub.org/awards.
Up to Top
|
