Deadline for nominations is WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2008.

Overview

The Sierra Club and NAAEE’s Green Youth Leader Award may be presented to a high school student in recognition of a contribution to, or leadership in, environmental education at the local, state/provincial, regional, national, or global level. The ideal candidate is a student who is currently completing or has just completed his or her junior year in high school.

The award recipient will have made a significant contribution to EE and demonstrated a serious interest in pursuing an environmental education or closely related college major or career. 

Criteria for nomination:

• Visible individual contributions in EE – creating events, productions, campaigns, or curricula
• Service in the field of EE – contributions to the events or programs of EE organizations
• Excellence in print or electronic reporting or environmental outreach to educate the public
• Significant participation in or organization of environmental service-learning projects that include an education component

Award Description and Criteria

The person receiving The Sierra Club and NAAEE Green Youth Leader Award must have made significant contributions to addressing environmental concerns. Many of the people working in these areas are person of color, and the environmental education field has under-recognized their leadership and achievements thus far. Therefore, Sierra Club and NAAEE actively seek nominations from culturally diverse communities.

With rare exceptions, the award will be given annually to a high school student who is currently completing or has just completed the junior academic year.  The recipient should demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Use of environmental issues to motivate youth to reach their highest potential and to provide them with hands-on experiences that build practical day-to-day life skills.
• Use of environmental education to empower community residents or students to address local environmental concerns.
• Dedication to service and leadership that encourages the participation of multicultural audiences in environmental education.
• Excellence in educating the public about the environment and its connections to social, health, and/or environmental justice issues through print, electronic, or visual media.

This award is an environmental education award, as defined by the 1977 Tbilisi Declaration, and includes a significant action component.  It is not an advocacy award alone, but will be given to an individual of high school age who has made a significant contribution in environmental education.

The nominator must be a member/partner in good standing of either Sierra Club or NAAEE. Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, August 13, 2008.

To nominate an individual, please gather the following information and submit it here>>

1. Full name of nominee as it should appear on the award.
2.  Name of the school attended by the nominee.
3. Grade level of person nominated.
4. Brief summary of accomplishments of person nominated.  (50-word limit.  This will be used in the awards ceremony program.)
5. Explanation of accomplishments of person nominated (500-word limit) including:

• How the person meets the award criteria

• When the accomplishments were achieved

• Specifically why you believe these accomplishments represent distinguished service to the field of EE

6. College or career plans of nominee
7. Submitter's personal contact information:
   Name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.
8. Organization of which the nominator is a member: Sierra Club or NAAEE