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Groundwater Foundation Teachers Receive EPA's Educators Environmental Excellence Award

Release Date: 05/21/2007
Contact Information: Denise Morrison, (913) 551-7402, [email protected]

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., May 21, 2007) – Co-leaders of The Groundwater Foundation youth education programs in Lincoln, Neb., have been named Educators Environmental Excellence Award recipients from Nebraska for 2006-2007 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew said, “I am very pleased to recognize Carla Otredosky and Jamie Oltman for their outstanding leadership in the field of environmental education.”

Ms. Otredosky and Ms. Oltman have led three new youth programs, expanded others and coordinated a successful leadership transition for the Groundwater Foundation.

They are responsible for youth programs H20 on the Go, Awesome Aquifers for Science Olympiad, and the Youth Groundwater Congress. H20 on the Go has served about 2,000 students since its inception in 2004, and this year Ms. Otredosky and Ms. Oltman have trained youth leaders in water education as part of their regular activities.

The partnership with the national Science Olympiad has been one of the most successful programs ever – reaching about 5,000 youth each year with ground water education and model building activities. The Youth Groundwater Congress held in Washington, D.C. in 2004; Nebraska City, Neb., in 2005; and central and eastern Nebraska in 2006 has successfully trained youth to become environmental leaders for the future.

Ms. Otredosky and Ms. Oltman have advanced the Groundwater Foundation’s educational mission. The Test Your Well Night program, another youth-focused program, was expanded under their leadership. Their dedication has given a tremendous boost to helping young people care more and do more for our region’s ground water.

The other recipient from EPA Region 7 is William J. Desmarais, Washington High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The annual Educators Environmental Excellence Award Program is sponsored by EPA Region 7 to recognize outstanding environmental educators in the region. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 31. Award applications can be obtained by contacting:

Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Telephone: (913) 551-7003
Toll-free Environmental Action Line: (800) 223-0425
Electronically through the Region 7 Web site