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FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE |
July 7, 2011 |
Contact: Gerianne Smart
gsmart@echovermont.org
802.864.1848 ext. 121
Downloadable photos available at
www.echovermont.org/visitors/photos.html
ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center’s Teen Leadership Program wins Governor’s Award
MONTPELIER, VT—On June 30, 2011, more than twenty-three
organizations and individuals were recognized for their
exceptional contributions to environmental causes at the
Governor’s Environmental Awards. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science
Center’s Environmental Teen Leadership Program, otherwise known
as the E-Team, won the Governor’s award for Youth Environmental
Citizenship.
Several hundred people were in attendance at the ceremony
hosted by Vermont Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources,
Deb Markowitz and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of
Environmental Conservation, Justin Johnson. The award-winning
E-Team was accompanied by Kirsten Brewer, ECHO's 2011 Open Door
Coordinator and Americorps State member, as well as, ECHO’s
Director of Education, Molly Loomis.
Brewer said, “These are local 9th and 10th graders who commit
to ECHO for a whole year. While working at ECHO 6 hours every
week, they learn about the animals here, the Basin, the mission
of the organization, and how to educate and delight ECHO
visitors on the floor. Many of our E-team alums are inspired to
pursue science and conservation as a career, but all of them
will be the future stewards of the environment and our Basin.”
E-Team Coordinator, Kirsten Brewer and ECHO’s Director of
Education, Molly Loomis, were accompanied by E-Team members
Meiling Chau, Cesar Hammond, Thomas Elston, Sheperd Lantz, and
Joyce Pan. Taylor Sanders, Mohamed Mohamed, Em Geiselman, Thejas
Wesley and 2010 E-Team Coordinator Amanda Gurgul, though not in
attendance for the Governor’s Environmental Awards, are also
honored by this recognition.
The E-team is a competitive program with only a select few
students chosen to participate each year. ECHO will begin
interviewing new applicants for the program in September. For
more information on joining our E-team visit ECHO’s website
under “Join &
Support Us”.
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ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is located at the
Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont’s Burlington
Waterfront. ECHO features 70 live species, more than 100
interactive experiences, changing and permanent exhibits and
seasonal events — all exploring the Ecology, Culture, History,
and Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. The
2.2 acre Leahy Center environmental campus is also highlighted
by the Lake Champlain Basin Program Resource Room, UVM’s
Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Lake Champlain Navy
Memorial, ECHO’s Eclectic Gift Shop, and ecology-themed Café
managed by Sugarsnap. Open year-round, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day. For more information visit
echovermont.org, call (toll-free) 1.877.324.6386, or write to
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain, One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
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1.802.864.1848
