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Two Massachusetts Residents Win Environmental Educator Awards

Release Date: 05/10/2001
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - Two residents of Massachusetts were among six residents of New England who were recognized this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for demonstrating exceptional work in drinking water education.

The Environmental Educator Awards were given out today during a Massachusetts Drinking Water Day celebration in Leominster.

"These citizens have made a huge contribution in educating residents in the Bay State about the importance of clean and safe drinking water," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "EPA New England applauds and honors them for their work in protecting drinking water."

The recipients in Massachusetts are:

• Demil Kovacevic.: Kovacevic taught the Orange Water Department's superintendent Richard Kilhart the fundamentals of environmental education 25 years ago and continues that work now to Kilhart's son and other fifth graders at the Butterfield Elementary School in Orange. His vision for years was what everyone else is teaching today, including field trips to clean up local streams, testing water from streams and water supply protection.
  
• Jeff White: White, a gym teacher at Dighton Elementary School in Dighton, volunteered to teach all children in kindergarten through 4th grade to explain what a valuable asset water is and how it should be used wisely.