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Department of Ecology News Release - May 23, 2008
08-141
OLYMPIA – Mobilizer. Catalyst. Tireless partner. These are just some of the words used to describe local educator Kathy Jacobson, whom the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) today honored with an Environmental Excellence Award.
Jacobson was surprised with the award during a meeting of the Chehalis Basin Partnership in Rochester. Ecology Southwest Regional Director Sally Toteff, who first met and worked with Jacobson in a different setting a number of years ago, presented the award.
“Kathy’s work in the Chehalis watershed over the past seven years has involved building more local awareness and action to preserve uses and foster stewardship of the watershed,” said Toteff. “Because Kathy is a tireless partner who helps mobilize watershed protection work today, and helps build future watershed leaders to ensure the work continues long term, the Department of Ecology is very happy to recognize her with this award.”
The recognition is given to individuals, businesses and organizations that have shown leadership, innovation or extraordinary service in protecting, improving or cleaning up the environment. It is the highest award given by Ecology for environmental excellence.
Jacobson has been an environmental educator specializing in water quality in Southwest Washington for more than 25 years. Employed by Educational Service District 113, she manages the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium program.
As its coordinator, she brings together students, teachers, community members and businesses to enhance environmental learning and a build a deeper appreciation for lifelong environmental values. Together, they conduct environmental restoration and protection projects from the headwaters of the Chehalis downstream to Grays Harbor.
Most of the classes Jacobson works with monitor conditions of local rivers, streams and inlets. She facilitated the opportunity for 200 students to help plant the trees and shrubs at the interpretive trail along the Chehalis River near the Centralia Wastewater Treatment Plant. She also coordinates an annual contest for student art and poetry that is associated with the “Words and Images from the Watershed: Washington’s River of Words.”
Carol Boyer is just one of the many teachers Jacobson has worked with over the years. She remembers the impact of Jacobson’s enthusiasm.
“When Kathy stepped into the job of Chehalis Basin Education Consortium director, she inherited a handful of teachers with some water quality testing kits. We were excited about our water quality studies, but Kathy had bigger plans for us,” Boyer said. “Soon we were not only testing water, but also macro-invertebrates and soil, taking stream walks, studying salmon, speaking to outside groups, creating art and poetry, planting trees and writing to change policies. Through these activities my students became engaged in their education like never before.”
Boyer credits Jacobson for helping students gain more than just academic knowledge. She wrote in a congratulatory letter that Kathy has a way of inspiring feelings of success in students, particularly those with tough challenges.
She wrote: “I had a parent call me nearly in tears when her son, who was often in trouble, carried on a serious adult conversation about pH and dissolved oxygen with his uncle who worked in fisheries. She told me she couldn’t even follow the conversation it was so technical. A special education student was one of my lead speakers at Evergreen – and it is hard to overestimate the impact on a fifth grade student when a group of adults listens to him and sees him as an expert. Another student with developmental disabilities won the River of Words poetry contest with a delightful poem about a hummingbird.”
Jacobson was nominated by two Ecology employees long acquainted with her work in environmental education and hands-on projects. She is the first Environmental Excellence Award recipient for 2008.
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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239
For more information:
Environmental Excellence Award:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/environmental_excellence.htm
Chehalis Basin Education Consortium:
http://www.esd113.k12.wa.us/templates/Container.aspx?ID=823
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
