The Environment Champion award is given each year at Earth Day to those who demonstrated outstanding work in promotion of sustainable, green practices. The award is given to those who specifically impact environment efforts in the local area but can also be impacting other areas of Nebraska or globally. If you have someone to elect to receive the Environment Champion Award, please click here and put the subject "Environment Champion award nominee" and how to contact you.
The following are Environment Champions:
2020
Adult Volunteers:
Noah Sundberg
Tara Sundberg
Carl Sundberg
Kerri Diez-Pillen
Kyle Bivens
Dr. John Kyndt
Dr. Tyler Moore
Leonor Choi
Kendra Terlson
Bob Fusselman
Student Volunteers:
Camden Foss
Riley Foss
Adelina Foss
Acelyn Dil
Student Projects:
Project Revitalize, Bellevue West FBLA
Baden Brumbaugh
Jack Mettin
Leah Larson
Pat Hinkle, Co-Advisor
Katthie Britten, Co-Advisor
Henry Doorly Zoo Academy
For the Fins: video and trashion fashion Myo K Zine Soe, Trinity Lewis, Emma Stock, and Kayce Stevens
Pollinator Protectors: Amy Wagner, Julie Ferro and Haley Estlund (video)
Biocubed: (video) Figs Ju, Dylan Baker, Caitlin Copenhaver, Dylan Folda, Payton Detavernier.
Planet B: (video) Lexi Blankenfeld, Erin Teske, Kaya Koraleski, Tyler Mathews, Alyssa Flott
Nebraska Raptors (video) Sam Baratta, Blake Anderson, Jackson Henning, Erica Griffith, Ethan Smith
Zooniverse: (video) Aidan Hatfield, Maddy Jaksha and Avery Wagner
On the Course: (video) Makenna Parks, Emily Nelson and Alexis Hoover
Koleen Haldeman Co-Teachers (Also Tess Sykes, EC Award 2017)
Education:
Director Kevyn Sopinski, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
Dr. Martha Shulski, Director of UNL’s NE State Climate Office
Organizations:
The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska
Cox Communications
2019
Volunteering:
Dr. Sharon Rea
Andy Severson
Jennifer Hulscher
Gillian Cromwell
Albert Lierz, Clean energy.electric cars
Graham Christensen, regenerative agriculture
Brian Kear, Bellevue University
Anita & Saul Soto, Zero waste and community garden
Craig Moody, renewable energy & efficiency
Libby Rea, Student, Volunteer
Garrett Sims, Zero Waste Foodstock events
Educators:
Dr. Mike Shambaugh-Miller, Leadership in food recovery
Dr. Ted Burk, Professor of Biology at Creighton University
Organizations:
Beardmore Subaru, ED sponsor & electric vehicles
ROI Consulting, Inc.
Hillside Solutions
OPPD
T.E.A.M.
Young Adults:
Zoo Academy:
Sierra McMains
Lilia Alvarez
Rylee Canales
Bellevue West:
Arcelia Marquez, GB Board Member
2018
Volunteering:
Naomi Colby
Michelle Foss
Rocky Keehn
Mary Ann Krzemien
Jeanine Lackey
Kelly Mcvey
Frances Moore
Andrea Ortiz
Jimeal Phillips
Margaret Stamp
Sarah Supenski
Cheyenne Svenson
Educators:
Kay Carne
Rachel Carraher
Betsy Goodman
Matt Gregory
Kyle Johnson
John Pollack
Josh Preister
Cliff Mesner
John Royster
Ben Samuelson
Dr. Jeremy White
Young Adults:
Patrick McGreal
Ellie Morrison
Lillian West
Rachel Williss
Youth:
Joslyn Stamp
2017
Volunteering:
Martha Ruff
Gus von Roenn
Jeanine Lackey
Kat Woerners
Sarah Lively
Cathy Fugel
Alex Colby
Jill Krumbach
Corrie Oberdin
David Stotts
Tess Sykes
David Holtzclaw
Emily Salie
Eric Williams
David Holtzclaw
Zoo Academy Class 2017
Alex Wiles
Kylee Rene Fischer
Debbie Fischer
Bellevue Garden Club
Roger Cox
Hefty Bag Program
2016
Helen & Ken Deffenbacker
David Corbin
Michael Shonka
Jim & Marty Davis
Bellevue Public Schools
Della Lee
Bryan High School Thrive Leadership
Harmony Court- Business
Fitssentials - Business
Caleb Eby - Young Adult
Brook Riley- Young Adult
Allyson Marie Riley - Youth
Milisa Riley
County Commissioner Tom Richards
Seth Kron-Keith
Charlene Brown
2015
Business Awards:
Papillion Sanitation
Papio/Mo Natural Resources District
Great Southern Bank
UN at Omaha
Nebraska Medicine - Bellevue
Offutt Collision Repair
Omaha:
Brittany Dabestani
Bellevue:
Epiphany Ramos, City of Bellevue
Kim Luik, Papillion Sanitation
Art Pawlak, Firstar Fiber
Nancy Scott
Sara Lee
Karissa Williams, Offutt Collision
Shelah Davis
Jennifer Wilson
Papillion:
Neal Von Seggern
Lacey Wrubel
LaVista:
Candy Bless
Gretna:
Andy Harpenau, Gretna Sanitation
Young Adult:
Grace Wilson, Bellevue East
Youth:
Madeline Lee
Audrey Davis
Miranda Davis
Greta Jacobson
Julian Wrubel
2014
Alice Boeckman
Virginia Babcock
Senator Sue Crawford
Graham Herbst
Marta Nieves
Mayor Rita Sanders
Alan Weiss
Youth:
Bobby Richter
William Richter
Emily Wilson
Kellen Bees
Trenton Shonka
2013
Alex Totman
Melissa Bees
Kay Baldwin
Cindy Ruffner
David Larrick
Maureen Kowker
Dale Gubbels
Jeff Rippe
Craig Christians
Becca Gilbert
Anthony Elias
Jennie Hovey
KKids - Bellevue Elementary
2012
Dave Babbitt
Carol Blood
Lisa Bethel-Didamo
Cynthia Hill
Mary Jo Hopfensperger
Bridgett Petzholdt
Megan Shonka
Michel Thornhill
Della Lee Wilson
Steve Thyberg
Marya Lucca-Thyberg
Shirley McNally
Kevin Rohlfs, Bellevue West Principal
Alysa Dale
Congressional Awards Club/ EARTH-KIND volunteers:
Erica Lunde
Tristan Gilbert
Mystie Bracken
Bellevue West Ecology Club members:
Nicole DiPaolo
Hailey Stolze
Michael Maybe
Christian Pechler
2011
Marea Whitaker Bishop
Kathryn Ewing
Lisa Bonhert
Councilman Dave Sanborn
JoAnn Langabee
Mary Leahy
Julie Petr
Judy Lane
Ted Menzel
Julie Sorensen, Congressional Awards Club, Bellevue West High School
Church of the Holy Spirit, Fr. Tom Jones
St. Mary's School , Cindy Menzel
2010
Patti Smith, KIND Club
Gary Mixan
Terry Lee
Tom Mruz
Don Preister
Ruth Richter
Anita Eckley
Lisa Swanson
Wendy Lee
Dave Anson
Dana Conaway
Julie McNally
Tonya Ward
Justin Evertson
Bob Hendrickson
Robert Clark
Harlan Hamernik
Kathleen Cue
Ben Frakes
Jeff Mesenbrink
Wake Robin School, Chad Zavala
Chandler View School