News Release

PACD Announces Annual Award Recipients

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) presented its annual awards to individuals and organizations that have helped to promote or continue conservation efforts in Pennsylvania. The award ceremony occurred on July 21 at the Joint Annual Conference of the PACD and the State Conservation Commission in Altoona, PA. Mr. C. Jarrett Miller, PACD First Vice President, served as Master of Ceremonies for the awards luncheon.

Conservation districts across the state sent nominations to judging panels for consideration. Winners were presented with the following awards during the luncheon.

Robert Ritchey, Cambria County--Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation Award. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the conservation of Pennsylvania's natural resources. Bob, an Army retiree, initiated a clean streams improvement project as a private citizen. He is currently working on the cleanup from acid mine drainage of Saltlick Run, a tributary to the Little Conemaugh River. Mr. Ritchey is now a Conservation District Public Director and Vice Chairman where he heads the Water/Resources Committee. Bob's astounding volunteer hours have made a difference in his hometown of Johnstown, PA and beyond.

Cindy DeMaria, Bucks County--Conservation Educator of the Year. This award is presented to a teacher who has demonstrated a strong commitment to conservation education programs and activities in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Cindy teaches both Environmental Science and Special Education at Pennsbury High School in Bucks County. She is responsible for starting an environmental club at the school and creating the environmental studies course. Cindy challenges her students to identify environmental problems around the school and community and then design and implement those solutions.
Examples of projects her students completed are: school ground
beautification, wetland improvement, habitat enhancement and a park
clean-up. Cindy and her students even uncovered and reported a hazardous waste site in Yardley, PA. Her colleagues use one word to describe Cindy DeMaria's dedication to the environment: passion.

The Graham Family, Westmoreland County--Conservation Farmer of the Year. This award is given to a farmer who has furthered conservation through the establishment and maintenance of soil, water, and nutrient management practices. The Graham Family has had a conservation plan for their dairy farm since the 1970s. Bob has served as county president for the Farm Bureau and presently is the secretary of the organization. For 70 years the Grahams have run a 500-acre farm in Bolivar, PA. They installed streambank fencing and a stream crossing. The Grahams also planted 200 trees along the streams on their property to create a riparian buffer and wildlife habitat. This award is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation.

The Doc Fritchey Chapter - Trout Unlimited, Lebanon & Dauphin Counties--Conservation Organization of the Year. This award is given to an organization that has made a noteworthy contribution to the conservation of Pennsylvania's soil, water and related natural resources. The Doc Fritchey Chapter of Trout Unlimited is "dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the coldwater resources of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties." The organization has roots dating back to 1970. The volunteers keep busy building and maintaining stream improvement projects, performing clean-ups and monitoring the water quality of the Stony Creek Watershed. The chapter also provides education and outreach discussing the importance of coldwater habitats. This award is sponsored by the State Conservation Commission.

Margaret Respet, Cambria County--M.K. Goddard Forest Resource Management Award. This award is presented to a woodland owner who has had a written woodland management plan in operation for at least five years; has demonstrated the wise use of their forest resources; and is a conservation district cooperator. Margaret resides on the family farm in Salix, PA. Margaret's daughter Katie and her husband Dave also live in a home on the property and help with management decisions.

Margaret Respet accepts the M.K. Goddard Forest Resource Management Award from award sponsor Ken Manno of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative of PA (left) and PACD President Ron Rohall.

The Respets became a district cooperator in 1954. The 106 acres of forest is under forest management and is a certified Pioneer Tree Farm. The Respets are willing to have woodlot tours on the property to promote sound sustainable forest management. One of the judges who visited the site said, "the property is perfectly managed. We wish more Pennsylvania forest landowners did this kind of work." This award is sponsored by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative of Pennsylvania.

Bernadine Lennon, Pike County--William Lange Urban Conservation Award. This award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a unique and outstanding contribution to the conservation of natural resources in an urban area of Pennsylvania. Bernadine is an active member of the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District Board and the Lacawac Sanctuary. She served as Director, Vice Chair and Board Chairperson of the Pike County Conservation District where she chaired a very successful fundraising committee. Growth management, watershed protection, forest and wildlife management at the urban/rural interface and education of municipal officials are all areas in which Bernadine has urged District focus.

P. Scott Conner, Westmoreland County--Elected Official Recognition Award. This award is presented to an elected official who has consistently supported conservation issues and has made outstanding contributions to the conservation of Pennsylvania's natural resources. Scott Conner is a Westmoreland County Commissioner who also serves on the Westmoreland Conservation District board. One of Commissioner Conner's greatest contributions has been his constant guidance, support, and financial backing of the District's new Conservation Education Center. The Commissioner has been described as "a man of integrity who acts on his convictions." This award will be presented to the Commissioner at the annual meeting of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

Snyder County Conservation District--Annual Report of the Year. This award is presented to the conservation district that submits the most informative, concise, readable and attractive annual report. Each district's annual report is judged by representatives of the State Conservation Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Conservation Service and PACD. The Lancaster County Conservation District was awarded second place, while the Berks County Conservation District captured third place.

Each year, PACD hosts a poster contest for school children in grades K-12. The PACD Auxiliary sponsors contest prizes. The winning entries are sent to the National Association of Conservation Districts' poster contest for judging on a national level. This year's winners were presented with their awards at the luncheon. They are:

Leslie Tift (Greene County) - Kindergarten to First Grade;
Olivia Vellone (Blair County) - Second to Third Grade;
Matthew Nicewinter (Delaware County) - Fourth to Sixth Grade;
Alison Terndrup (Cambria County) - Seventh to Ninth Grade; and
Ashley Gibbs (Delaware County) - Tenth to Twelfth Grade.

The PACD Auxiliary also awards a scholarship to a college student from Pennsylvania, for the support of Agricultural and Environmental Education. Christy Anderson of Montgomery County was this year's recipient. Christy is a Junior at Delaware Valley College where she is studying plant biology.

Outgoing PACD President Ron Rohall and Auxiliary President Sarah Long both received recognition at the luncheon for their dedication and years of service.

PACD, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization representing Pennsylvania's 66 conservation districts. For more information on the PACD Conservation Awards Program visit http://www.pacd.org/about/award_progr.htm.

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