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SIERRA CLUB ANNOUNCES 2006 NATIONAL AWARDS SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A photographer who has documented global warming and a writer who has exposed the devastating effects of mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia were among those honored with national awards from the Sierra Club this year. Photographer Gary Braasch received the Ansel Adams Award, which honors excellence in conservation photography. Braasch, of Nehalem, Ore., has devoted most of his time since 2000 to the World View of Global Warming, which is the only dedicated photo documentation of the effects of rapid climate change. Erik Reese, who teaches environmental writing at the University of Kentucky, received the David R. Brower Award, which recognizes a professional journalist for stories pertaining to the environment. His 2006 book Lost Mountain: A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness, as well as articles in several national magazines, have introduced the general public to the environmental problems posed by mountaintop removal mining. The Sierra Club’s highest honor, the John Muir Award, which honors a distinguished record of environmental achievement, was presented earlier in the year to the late Larry Melhaff of Salt Lake City, Utah. Melhaff served as the Club’s Deputy Field Director prior to his death in June 2006. "Larry spent his life speaking for the prairies, mountains and wildlife with passion and good cheer. More importantly, he inspired others to join that work. There are rivers and lands that are protected for generations to come because Larry was there for them," said Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. "John Muir would be honored to have Larry Mehlhaff follow in his footsteps because Larry has helped so many ordinary citizens protect the wild places they love." The Joseph Barbosa Earth Fund Award, which recognizes a club member under the age of 30, was presented to Juliana Williams of Bellvue, Wash. As president of the student environmental group at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., Williams helped persuade her college administration to purchase 20 percent of its energy from renewable energy resources. The Madelyn Pyeatt Award, which recognizes working with youth, was presented to Peter Kaplan of McLean, Va. Kaplan has run the Washington, D.C., Inner City Outings program for the Sierra Club for more than 10 years. Williams and Kaplan will receive $500 from the Joseph Barbosa Earth Fund to continue their work. Others receiving 2006 Sierra Club awards included the following: Distinguished Achievement Award (honors persons in public service for a particular act of importance to the environment): Texas State Senator Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso, Texas. Distinguished Service Award (honors persons in public service for strong and consistent commitment to conservation over a period of time): Ralph R. White, Jr., superintendent of the James River Park near Richmond, Va. Earthcare Award (recognizes individuals who have made a unique contribution to international environmental protection and conservation): Dr. Ullas Karanth, director of the Center for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore, India. Electronic Communication Award: Sierra Student Coalition (for www.ssc.org). Environmental Alliance Award (recognizes individuals or groups that have forged partnerships with other non-Sierra Club entities): Bonnie Tillery of Hamilton, N.J.; and Aaron Viles of New Orleans, La. Ida and Denny Wilcher Award (recognizes excellence in fundraising or membership development): The Angeles Chapter. Newsletter Award: The Sylvanian (published by the Pennsylvania Chapter). Oliver Kehrlein Award (for outstanding service to the club’s outings program): John Corcoran of Venice, Calif. One-Club Award (recognizes people who use outings as a way to instill an interest in conservation and protecting public lands): Fred Dong of Montrose, Calif. Raymond J. Sherwin International Award (honors extraordinary volunteer service toward international conservation): Richard Cellarius of Prescott, Ariz. Special Achievement Awards (for a single act of importance dedicated to conservation or the Sierra Club): Betsy Bennett of Louisville, Ky.; Roberta Brashear of Kurtistown, Hawaii; and Dexter Perkins of Grand Forks, N.D. Special Service Awards (for strong and consistent commitment to conservation over an extended period of time): David Cooper of Lexington, Ky.; Mark Bagley of Bishop, Calif.; and Barbara Coman of Metairie, La. Susan E. Miller Award (for outstanding service to Sierra Club chapters): J. Owen Maloy of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. William E. Colby Award (the club’s highest honor for administrative work): Dan Sullivan of San Francisco, Calif. William O. Douglas Award (recognizes those who have made outstanding use of the legal/judicial process to achieve environmental goals): Laurens Silver of Mill Valley, Calif. For more information on the Sierra Club awards program, visit www. sierraclub.org/awards. ### |
