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Lehigh Gap Nature
Center |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Student Ecologists Honored at Wildlife Information Center
12 March 2006
Five Lehigh Valley area high school students were honored today (Sunday, March 12) at the Wildlife Information Center’s Osprey House at Lehigh Gap for their outstanding work on behalf of wildlife and the environment. The awards are given annually to high school students in public and private schools in Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, and were sponsored by Harleysville National Bank.
The Student Ecologists, were nominated by teachers and naturalists in recognition of their work such as volunteering at local parks and conservation education programs, building and interpretive nature trail, designing a bluebird trail and monitoring project, or demonstrating leadership in school or community environmental activities. Every high school in the three-county region received information about the awards and an opportunity to nominate students.
The 2006 Student Ecologists are:
Marci Barr, a junior at Parkland High School. Marci was nominated for the award by the Wildlife Center’s Board of Directors for her work on the Prairie Warbler Trail at the Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge. Marci built upon the work of previous student ecologist, Doug Beam, who constructed the path that became the Prairie Warbler Trail. Marci researched the flora and fauna along the trail, and learned about the value of early successional, scrub habitat, then designed a self-guided nature trail by creating informative signs and a brochure. Marci received the Girl Scout Gold Award for her Prairie Warbler Trail project. Marci is also actively involved in her school’s environmental club, for which she is the treasurer. Marci’s parents are Dennis and Debbie Barr of Allentown.
Rebecca Cunfer, a Lehighton High School senior. Becky is active in 4H and Girl Scouts, and is planning an Environmental Youth Day Camp for her Girl Scout Gold Award. She helped rebuild nature trails at Hickory Run State Park and a butterfly garden at the Carbon County Environmental Center, and she volunteered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission at their bear check station. She has also been a member of school Envriothon teams since elementary school. Rebecca plans to major in wildlife biology at Unity College in Maine beginning in September. Dave Hawk, environmental science teacher at Lehighton High School, nominated Rebecca. Margie and Bart Cunfer are Rebecca’s parents.
Katrina Grau, a Northampton High School senior. Katrina has participated for her four years of high school in environmental projects in preparation for attending the Delaware Watershed Youth Eco-leadership Summit, and she has been a leader in her group each year. Last year’s project was the construction of an Osprey nest platform that will be installed at Tuscarora State Park this spring. Katrina is also a volunteer member of the Keystone Cement Community Advisory Panel in Bath, PA and attended the Air and Water Conservation Conference in September 2004. Pam Hoffner, environmental science teacher at Northampton, nominated Katrina for the award. Katrina’s parents are Craig and Donna Grau of Northampton.
Jennifer Kolodin, a Hazleton Area High School junior. Jennifer is eligible for the award because of her extensive service as a volunteer at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center (CCEEC) in Summit Hill, PA. Jennifer has done many chores at CCEEC, but she enjoys most the work with the animals that are being rehabilitated or housed at the Center for their educational programs. She has been volunteering for years and has turned that volunteer work into her senior project at school. Jeannie Carl and Sue Gallagher of CCEEC nominated Jennifer for the award, saying that she not only does her work cheerfully and with precision, but she is also always thinking about ways to improve the Center’s operations. Her parents are Les Kolodin and Anita Reber of Drums, PA.
Joseph Kopcho, a sophomore from Parkland High School. Joseph was nominated for the award by his scoutmaster and father, Charles Kopcho of Boy Scout Troop 57 in Neffs. Joseph has earned numerous certificates, medals, and awards through scouting that are related to the environment, including a Presidential Youth Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for outstanding achievement in environmental protection. Locally, he has designed a bluebird nest box monitoring program and nature trail at Johnson’s Pond Wildlife Park and LeVan’s Park in North Whitehall Township. Joseph’s parents are Charles and Patricia Kopcho of Schnecksville.
In the awards ceremony, Wildlife Center president Dan Kunkle praised the students for their interest and activism on behalf of wildlife and the environment. Each student received a certificate of merit, a wildlife book of their choosing, and a one-year membership in the Wildlife Center. Kunkle also praised the parents and teachers of these fine young people, for their roles in the lives of these outstanding young people. The students were invited to participate in the Center’s restoration activities at its new Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge, including a clean-up day next Saturday, Earth Day workshops, and other educational programs and service projects throughout the year.
Kunkle also thanked Harleysville National Bank for sponsoring the awards.
For More Information Contact:
Lehigh Gap Nature Center
PO Box 198, Slatington, PA 18080
Tel: 610-760-8889
FAX: 610-760-8889
Internet:
wiclgap@ptd.net
