The awards below were honored at our 2019 Environmental Awards Recognition Dinner on May 22, 2019. We honored educators, students, and landowners who promoted conservation education in the classroom and landowners who put conservation on the ground. Our awards topics focus on soil and water quality conservation. Charleston Soil & Water Conservation District would like to thank all the schools, teachers and students who participated in all of our education programs! See Photos below: Also see article in 2019 Annual Newsletter
2019 Conservation Environmental Awards
Education Awards:
2019 Best Conservation Poster Award - 2nd Grade Class - Palmetto Christian Academy, Teacher, Amy Adkins
2019 Best Conservation Essay Award - Anastazia Mandones - Chas. Co. School of the Arts, Teacher, Kevin Short
2019 Most Creative Conservation Poster - 3rd Grade -Palmetto Christian Academy, Teacher, Angie Andrews
2019 Environmental Science Fair Winners
- Ishaq Haque- Academic Magnet High School-"A Novel Arsenic filtration System for Low Income Families" Senior 1 Division Winner
- Noah Boudolf & Maysen Ronchetto - Orange Grove Charter School-" Purposely Repurposing" Senior 2 Division Winner
2019 Outstanding Teacher Participation Award -Jessica Herbert -Wando High School - Jessica has been an avid supporter, teacher and coach of our conservation contests that promote the education of our natural resources. Jessica not only teaches biology, and environmental science, but she also is the coach for her Envirothon Team students who participate in the annual Envirothon Competition! Charleston District would like to thank Terry and her school for their unwavering commitment to conservation education programs that are extra curriculum to their already busy agenda! Jessica's quote: I think the most important thing we can do for our students is to help them think critically about environmental issues and to empower them to act on solutions. See a photo of Jessica above!
2019 Conservationist of the Year Award - "Zack Snipes / Clemson University, Extension, Horticulture Agent." Zack Snipes, Horticulture Agent, accepted the Conservationist of the Year Award on behalf of Clemson University. Zack focuses on commercial vegetable assistance to growers with a strong emphasis on integrated pest management. He works closely with researchers at Clemson's Coastal Research and Education Center as well as the United States Department of Agriculture Vegetable Lab. Currently he is working with growers on a predictive forecasting model for the management of strawberry diseases, broccoli varieties suitable for SC, and grated vegetables for commercial use.
The District, together with our Conservation Partner (NRCS) Natural Resource Conservation Service, has been privileged to work with Zack in many ways. One example was The Soil Health & Tractor Field Day in February of 2918, where you discussed cover crop selection, rates, planting dates, equipment, and success stories in the Charleston area. The passion and focus Zack puts into helping producers in the Lowcountry does not go unnoticed. The advice that Zack provides to Local growers is always timely and valuable. Zack is a great example of a "Partner" by his willingness to help with the District Needs, and to the needs of the community by helping create vegetable gardens at local schools. Additional programs that Zack is involved in are the Small Sustainable Farms and Backyards Course, the Schoolyard Gardens for SC Educators Program and the Sprayer Calibration and Pesticide Safety Workshop Series.
Charleston Soil & Water Conservation District is so fortunate to have a County Agent that is dedicated to keeping farming alive and well in the Lowcountry!
It is the District's pleasure to honor Zack Snipes" as our 2019 Conservationist of the Year!
See photos of all awards above!
The awards below were honored at our 2017 Environmental Awards Recognition Dinner on May 23, 2017. We honored educators, students, and landowners who promoted conservation education in the classroom and landowners who put conservation on the ground. Our awards topics focus on soil and water quality conservation. Charleston Soil & Water Conservation District would like to thank all the schools, teachers and students who participated in all of our education programs!
2017 Conservation Environmental Awards
Education Awards:
2017 Best Conservation Poster Award - 2nd Grade Class - Montessori Community School Teacher, Amy Pontiff
2017 Best Conservation Essay Award - Bethany Weeks - Charleston County School of the Arts Teacher, Kevin Short
2017 Most Creative Conservation Poster Award - 4th Grade Sail Class - Mt. Pleasant Academy Teacher, Laura Graham
2017 Environmental Science Fair Winners
- Mattie Hood - Charleston Day School - "Particle Problems" - Junior 1 Division Winner
- Emerson Bain - Philip Simmons Middle -"Tidal Energy" Junior 2 Division Winner
- Sydni Thomas - Georgetown School of Art and Sciences - "What's In Your Water?" - Senior 1 Division Winner
- Madison Freedy- Charleston Day School-"Diamondback Terrapin Mortality in Crab Traps" - Senior 2 Division
2017 Outstanding Teacher Participation Award - Ms. Terry Hartnett - Montessori Community School Terry was honored for her 20 past years of participation in our Poster Contests. She has been an avid supporter of our conservation contests that promote the education of our natural resources. Terry has been an excellent teacher and her students will miss her as she retired at the end of this school year. Charleston District would like to thank Terry and her school for their unwavering commitment to conservation education programs that are extra curriculum to their already busy agenda! We'll miss you Terry! See a photo of Terry above!
2017 Conservationist of the Year Award - "Growing New Farmer's Program / Lowcountry Local First" Brian Wheat, Director of Sustainable Agriculture, accepted the Conservationist of the Year Award on behalf of Growing New Farmer's Program. The District proudly partnered with Brian Wheat and Jamee Haley-Executive Director of Lowcountry Local First, to sponsor a High Tunnel Workshop which gave local new farmers the opportunity to construct a hands-on High Tunnel to extend their crop growing season. All participants experienced introductory-level training including coarsework, field trips, workshops, and regular field days on the 1-acre teaching plot at Middleton Place USDA Certified Organic Farm. The Growing New Farmer's Program also provides introductory level classroom and other hands-on-training in farm production and business planning. It offers optional apprenticeship placement with a mentor farmer that provides extended job-based training proven to be invaluable when venturing into the world of small to mid-sized sustainable farming. Since 2010 they have trained over 146 new farmers and food systems leaders in the Lowcountry. The participants receive a minimum of 250 training hours and receive a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture and Continuing Education Units from the College of Charleston through the School of Professional Studies' Job Bridge Program. Past participants have gone on to become active business members in our food system, along with many holding a variety of positions in the local agriculture industry (The Green Heart Project, the Johns Island Farmers Market, Wit Meets Grit, Sunday Brunch Farmers Market, Rooting Down Farms) are just a few. Thank you Lowcountry Growing new Farmer's Program for making a difference in Charleston County Agriculture!
It is the District's pleasure to honor Brian Wheat and "Local First's Growing New Farmer's Program" as a leader in conservation and education!
See photos of all awards above!
2016 Conservation Environmental Awards
EDUCATION AWARDS
2016 Best Conservation Poster Award - 4th Grade Sail Class (C/H)- Mt. Pleasant Academy, Teacher Laura Graham
2016 Best Conservation Essay Award -9th Grade Winner - Savannah "Reid" Brown - Charleston School of the Arts - Teacher Kevin Short
2016 Most Creative Poster Award - 4th Grade Class - Trident Academy - Teacher Ms. Nancy Amis
2016 Conservation Teacher Award - Ms. Laura Graham - Mt. Pleasant Academy _ Laura is a 4th Grade Sail Teacher who received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Masters of Education from Converse. She also received a Master of Arts in History from the Citadel. Laura just finished her 27th year of teaching and has shown a commitment to conservation and to our natural resource contest topics.
2016 Greatest School Participation Award - Jerry Zucker Middle School of Science - Teacher Erik Hilden Erik Hilden, Science Teacher at Jerry Zucker Middle School of Science, has participated in the Charleston Soil & Water Conservation District Essay Contests for several years. His classes have submitted the most essays of any school who has participated and we honored Mr. Hilden and his school for their long, ongoing, commitment to our natural resource contest topics.
2016 EnvirothonTeam Competition Award - Wando High School - Teacher /Team Coach: Jessica Herbert
Charleston Conservation District sponsored Wando High School for the 2016 Envirothon Competition. Ms. Jessica Herbert, Environmental Science Teacher, coached her team of 6 high school students for several weeks, to prepare them for the State Envirothon Team Competition. Jessica and her students were honored for their commitment our natural resources topics in this competition. This was their first year of competition and their
2016 Conservationist of the Year Award - Sam Cook, Director of Forestry for the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation in the Lowcountry (Charleston) was honored as the Conservationist of the Year. As an NRCS Technical Service Provider, Sam has helped over 24 landowners in Charleston by providing technical support to allow EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) funding for conservation improvements on their land.
2015 Conservation Environmental Awards
EDUCATION AWARDS
2015 Best Conservation Poster Award - First Grade Class - Montessori Community School. Teachers: Ms. Cynthia Gately and Ms. Robin Prosise.
2015 Best Conservation Essay Award -Seventh Grade Winner - Ms. Camila Carrillo, Montessori Community School, Teacher, Ms. Cynthia Gately.
2015 Most Creative Poster Award - Cub Scout Pack 707 - Second Grade, Scout Leader, Mr. Jim Hill.
2015 Conservation Teacher Award - Ms. Cynthia Gately, Montessori Community School of Charleston. Cynthia Gately us a science liaison and 1st-3rd grade teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Sciences from Auburn University and a Master's of Education from the State University of New York at Brockport.
2015 Contractor Awards A-1 Septic Services - Harry Wilson, Owner.
B2 Unlimited, LLC - Sam Brown, Owner
Knight's Septic Tank - Michael Knight, Owner
2015 Conservation Consultant Award
Richard L. Threat, Jr., MSM - SC Department of Health & Environmental Control