May 11, 2006 – The three V.I. residents who were honored April 21 with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Quality Awards will receive their awards Tuesday during an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Delta M. Dorsch Cultural Activity Center in Frederiksted.
The three honorees are architect Doug White, Junior Gardening and Ecology Academy founder Mario Francis and Coastal Zone Management and Outreach Coordinator Lillian Moolenaar (See "EPA to Honor Three Residents for Environmental Service").
Moolenaar attended an April 21 ceremony in New York to receive her award, but the other two did not.
Mary Mears, press director for EPA's regional office in New York, said Thursday that the St. Croix ceremony will give those who couldn't make it to the New York ceremony a chance to interact with regional administrator Alan J. Steinberg.
"And it will give them the recognition they deserve," she said.
White is receiving his award in the individual citizen category. Francis' comes under the nonprofit organization, environmental or community group category. Moolenaar's award is in the environmental education category.
EPA spokesman Chris Sebastian said when the awards were announced that White was honored for his work in starting the St. John-based Island Green Building Association, his various efforts in environmentally friendly architecture, and for his successful fight to register his GEM electric car.
Francis, in addition to founding the Junior Gardening and Ecology Academy, founded the St. Thomas Audubon Society. He has long worked with children and environmental programs, in addition to his tree conservation efforts.
Moolenaar received the award for her work in educational outreach, her community service projects and her work with the annual beach cleanup called Coastweeks.
The St. Croix office of the Environmental Protection Division of the Planning and Natural Resources Department will be closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday so staff can attend the ceremony.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
