Student Environmentalist of the Year

Grand Valley State University Traverse City students in Liberal Studies, Bachelor and Master of Education, and Master of Social Work

Jack Kerby-Miller, Maple City

Jack, a sophomore at Glen Lake Schools, organized a two-day, school-wide, teach-in at school on solutions to global warming. He involved and organized a wide variety of interested expert participants from local planning, governmental, environmental, and commercial interests and a group of fellow students to put on a workshop open to the public and well attended. This was a part of a nationwide teach-in, Focus the Nation, involving over 1,750 groups across the country concerned with global warming, and focused on developing local solutions to it. Jack’s effort represents a significant contribution to raising the consciousness of our local community.

Traverse City Central High & West High School Sophomores with a Grand Vision

TC West: Lee Ann Hepler, Ryan Huffman, Ray Innis, Paige Keith, Jack Lyon, Aaron Madison, Corrie McIntosh, Emily Schibelhut, Evan Schultz, Gina Taylor, Shane Totten, Carolyn Vlatch, Loren Wagner, Caitlyn Walston, Anthony West, and Jacob Williams

These 26 student leaders planned and hosted an exceptional learning and highly interactive opportunity for more than 800 of their sophomore peers to participate in the Grand Vision regional initiative. The students served as facilitators for visioning sessions held concurrently at their respective high schools on March 11 this year, and invited all sophomores to share their perspectives on shaping the region’s future. The concurrent assemblies served as a collaborative pilot that involved TCAPS students and faculty, the Grand Vision’s Public Involvement Committee, and Grand Vision project management team, Mead & Hunt. These assemblies have inspired several school districts across the six-county Grand Vision region to consider similar programs and opportunities to “help create our future together” in the months ahead.

Environmental Educator of the Year

Grand Valley State University Traverse City faculty, coordinators, and director

Coordinators: Jane Hayes, Vicki Kamps, Sharon Kalee, Gilda Povolo

Regional Director: Dr. Marty Litherland

Grand Valley State University Traverse City’s undergrad education students complete two semesters in the community; in their final year, they complete one semester assisting a teacher in the classroom, and their last semester is spent teaching. GVSU TC also offers numerous service learning and community service projects.  Our courses and learning opportunities support our mission: educating students to shape their lives, their professions and their societies.  The university contributes to the enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service.  The above GVSU TC faculty and coordinators utilize their courses and programs to stress environmental education at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  These courses and programs emphasize an experiential approach to environmental learning.

Jayne Leatherman-Walker, Eco-Learning Center

Kip Knight

Kip organized a science field trip involving 5th grade students from Lakeland Elementary School in Elk Rapids last fall. 85 students visited sites on Elk River and Grand Traverse Bay for a day-long workshop with natural resource experts from the DNR and the Grand Traverse Band exploring the aquatic life and ecosystems of these important water resources. Students netted fish, waded in the water, and conducted important science experiments at these sites. Kip has continued to incorporate information about the Grand Traverse Bay watershed into his classroom activities as part of his yearly curriculum for 5th graders.

Penny Krebiehl, Little Artshram

Environmentalist Grass Roots Group of the Year

The Leelanau Forum

Traverse Bay Watershed Greens

The Traverse Bay Watershed Greens have long been a political umbrella for area environmental action groups.  The Greens’ name was selected to promote the ideal that government could be organized by the boundaries of the watershed.  Every demographic is represented by people attending the Greens’ monthly meetings and events. A select list of accomplishments by the Greens includes ten years of public meetings and support for peaceful and environmentally responsible alternatives to our current lifestyles. The Greens have conducted dialogues and built bridges with area organizations and public and governmental entities, have led various efforts, and have supported others.  The Greens give the area a vital third-party choice with the environment being a top priority.

Environmentalist of the Year in Journalism & Communications

Bob Allen, Interlochen Public Radio

As both a producer and reporter, Bob has continually reported on environmental issues facing northern Michigan for many years. Most recently, Bob did excellent reporting on the Williamsburg Receiving & Storage (WRS) cherry plant issue including coverage of a Whitewater Township citizens' group who won a lawsuit which forced an environmental clean-up at the site. He also covered the on-going wetland issues at the Elk Rapids Preserve where the developer has now been ordered to restore wetlands connected to Grand Traverse Bay. Bob's thorough style of reporting on numerous issues facing northern Michigan has been a mainstay at Interlochen Public Radio.

Glenn Puit, Michigan Land Use Institute

Grand Valley State University Traverse City students: Jackie Abeyta, Emily Baker, Marcelo Betti, Noah Creamer, Dylan Davis, Therese Kaufman, Mariana Mueller, John Parker, Elizabeth Pine, Ken Roehling

Gretchen Rakiec Augustine, Traverse City Record-Eagle

Environmentalist of the Year in Business

Green Island, Sean and Lori Burns

Higher Grounds Trading Company, Chris and Jody Treter

Leelanau Flowers, Kelly Lively

Local Plates, Beth Collins

Local Plates is a Traverse City firm that helps food services operate more locally and efficiently. Owner Beth Collins, a chef and school food service consultant, aims to bring schools, institutions, restaurants and organizations efficient and dynamic approaches to building healthy bodies, minds, and communities by reconnecting with whole foods and the people who grow them. Before moving to Traverse City, Beth acted as the executive chef for Ross School in East Hampton, New York. There, Beth’s innovative food program received national attention for its commitment to children’s wellness by modeling healthy dining concepts in its café, serving regional, organic, seasonal and sustainable foods from local organic and sustainable producers.

Environmentalist of the Year in Public Service or Public Office

Barbara von Voightlander and the Village of Northport and Leelanau Township Officials

City of Traverse City Engineering Department:

Tim Lodge, City Engineer

Traverse City installed over $700,000 worth of stormwater infrastructure this year helping to filter water before it enters Grand Traverse Bay. Some of these structures were designed by the city's engineers. In addition, four types of pervious surfaces were installed in a city parking lot for testing, hoping to control and purify stormwater run-off before it enters the Bay. Over 1000 feet of riverfront along the Boardman was planted with native vegetation by the City.

City of Traverse City, Water Treatment Plant

The city's water treatment plant was named one of the best in the Great Lakes region by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2007. EPA Region 5, which serves six Great Lakes states, awarded the city for having a well-operated and well-maintained wastewater treatment plant. A private company CH2M HILL OMI operates the plant located on Franklin St. Traverse City was among seven others, including Petoskey, to receive honors from EPA.

Harold Chase

Mary Tonneberger, Leelanau County Commission

Patty O’Donnell, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments

Russ Soyring, City of Traverse City Planning Department

Tom Ulrich, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

As assistant superintendent of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Tom went out of his way to incorporate the public into the park’s General Management Plan revision process.

He made presentations before civic groups, offices, and governmental bodies, so that the public could be thoroughly informed about the process and the future of the park. Tom's commitment to the park, the environment, and the public are commendable.

Environmentalist of the Year – General

Andy Knott, The Watershed Center, Grand Traverse Bay

Andy has taken the reigns at The Watershed Center this year and done a fabulous job of addressing water quality issues in the watershed. Among other things, he developed the Action Plan for Healthy Beaches to address the E. coli concerns. He alerted the community to the need for comments on the GTOS Superfund site, and he is an active member of the Boardman River Dams Committee. At the same time, he has served as the general contractor for the remodeling of the new office for The Watershed Center next to the Great Lakes Children's Museum. This year gives us a small indication of what a marvelous asset he will be to our community as he continues to work to protect and preserve the Bay and its watershed.

Conservation Resource Alliance, Amy Beyer, Executive Director

CRA is known for collaborative land use solutions among private land owners, government agencies, and commercial businesses. Their intent is to foster locally driven solutions that will preserve or develop land in a positive manner for all involved parties. Staffed with biologists, fisheries biologists, engineers and field technicians, CRA works with land owners to plan and implement programs that enhance the region’s habitat value and beauty.

David Brigham

Diane Conners

John Richter

John has been executive director of the Friends of the Jordan River Watershed for many years. He has led numerous efforts to stop oil and gas drilling within the boundaries of the Jordan River Natural Area to maintain the natural value of the river and its watershed. Most recently, John has been a leader in questioning the need for a deep injection disposal well to be used for the waste materials and pollution from Bay Harbor by the CMS Corporation. John has worked closely with area townships and citizens to recommend CMS create its own wastewater treatment plant at Bay Harbor instead of transporting waste into a very small community northeastern Antrim County. John's leadership over the years to protect the incredible beauty and natural value of the Jordan River has been outstanding and deserves recognition.

Kay Charter

Mark Randolph

Song of the Lakes

Ingemar Johansson, Lisa Johansson, Rick Jones, Michael Sullivan

For 25 years, the musical quartet Song of the Lakes has been dedicated to entertaining and educating people about the Great Lakes. Referring to their music as Great Lakes World Music, the group blends sea shanties with Brazilian melodies and even sings the occasional bittersweet ballad. A great revival quality runs through their songs, and they deliver each musical treat with great joy and praise for our wondrous Great Lakes.

Tom Karas

As an opponent of the state’s plan to build and operate new coal-fired energy plants, Tom has urged government officials and regional organizations to back alternative energy measures. He has doggedly pursued Traverse City Light and Power to change their stance on coal, and has presented at national and state conferences. Tom specializes in research and investigation of the Wolverine plant proposal and works with a team of dedicated coal fighters.

Environmentalist of the Year – Volunteer

M’Lynn Hartwell

M’Lynn has worked quietly and diligently behind the scenes for decades, networking with politicians, groups, and individuals, for the benefit of the environment across the nation and around the world. She does not seek high-visibility, credit, or accolades, but rather the satisfaction that a change for the better has been made. While serving on the Traverse City Human Rights Commission, she wrote the Traverse City Resolution to Protect the Great Lakes and Watershed Basin. M'Lynn has always viewed environmental problems as a basic human rights issue. She also conceptualized and created (and continues to operate) the world’s first web site "World Water Wars" devoted to fresh water concerns from a global perspective; as well as "We Are Traverse City", a web site dedicated to regional sustainability.

Sarna Salzman

Golden Beaver Award—With leftover energy from running SEEDS and working tirelessly with Great Lakes Bioneers, Sarna focuses on saving farmland and helping new young farmer-students secure land to practice and learn hands-on farming. She is currently seeking the use the 14 acres of good bottom land at the Rolling Centuries Farm site for incubator farms, an idea backed 100% by the crew at Rolling Centuries. Sarna is saving land, tradition, and developing a sustainable farm plan, helping to ensure the next group of farmers are green-oriented. Through her involvement with Rolling Centuries Farm, Sarna is fulfilling part of the group’s dream of making the land a use for farming and for education.

Click here to read the criteria we consider
when voting for an Environmentalist of the Year.