HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2012-05-08 Tolbert Award recipients
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Town of Leesburg Recognizes Three Local Leaders with
2012 Tolbert Environmental Achievement Awards
Leesburg, VA (May 8, 2012) – The Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) is
pleased to announce three recipients of the 2012 John W. Tolbert, Jr. Environmental
Achievement Awards. This awards program recognizes students, community groups, and
individuals that conduct or participate in activities that benefit the Town’s environment. The
Leesburg Town Council will present the awards at the Council Meeting on May 22, 2012.
The first 2012 Tolbert Award recipient is
Chiara Marie Solitario. Ms. Solitario is a
student at Tuscarora High School where she
is president of the Interact Club. She has
donated over 200 hours of community
service including recently organizing a litter
clean up team that removed over 20 large
bags of trash in the Balls Bluff area. In
addition, as a sophomore honors biology
student, Ms. Solitario conducted a year-long
research science project on “The Effect of
Water Treatment on the Concentration of
E.coli” that won first place in Tuscarora’s Science and Engineering Fair. During the summer, she
will be a counselor in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for Loudoun County
Public Schools’ Career Camp for middle school students.
The second 2012 Tolbert Award recipient is
Julie Gurnee. Ms. Gurnee is the Senior
Naturalist at the Rust Nature Sanctuary in
Leesburg, and also the Director of
Environmental Education for Northern
Virginia for the Audubon Naturalist Society.
Over the past 5 years, she has provided
educational programs both at Rust Nature
Sanctuary and at area schools that
encourage students to appreciate nature
through animal and plant conservation,
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TOL PR 2012-05-08 Tolbert Award recipients
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wilderness survival, gardening, and arts and crafts. By forming the “Nature ROCKS” partnership
with the Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department, Ms. Gurnee has introduced the
wonders of nature to dozens of low to moderate income youth each summer. Her enthusiasm
and knowledge has inspired hundreds of local children to take a closer look at the natural world
around them.
The third 2012 Tolbert Award recipient is Felicity Francis
(pictured at right with student Cassidy Burk). Ms. Francis
is a Loudoun County High School teacher who has
inspired students to understand how the fate of
humankind is so closely tied with that of the natural
environment. She has incorporated the philosophy of
“think globally, act locally” into her curriculum by
exploring environmental problems that have led to
human disasters throughout history while also providing
insights into the local ecology. Her students benefit from
frequent walking field trips to natural areas to learn plant
and animal identification that help foster an
understanding and appreciation for Leesburg’s own
natural resources.
“Leesburg is so fortunate to have these local environmental leaders in our community” said
Linda Shotton, chair of the Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission.
The EAC and the Leesburg Town Council will host a brief ceremony to present the 2012 Tolbert
Awards on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at the beginning
of the Council’s regular meeting in the Council Chambers at Town Hall (25 West Market Street).
Contact:
Irish Grandfield
Senior Planner
igrandfield@leesburgva.gov
703-771-2766
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