The Prince George's Sierra Club Environmental Service Award
Every year since 2005 the Prince George’s Sierra Club Group has honored a county resident for his or her outstanding environmental service. The award was initially inspired by the work of the late Walter “Mike” Maloney, Jr. (1930-2001), a civic activist, County Council member, and attorney dedicated to the rights and the quality of life of everyday people. The Prince George’s Sierra Club Group accepts nominations for the Environmental Service Award each year. Nominees, who can be public officials or private citizens, must be residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and have demonstrated exceptional service to environmental issues with county-wide impact.
The PGSC Remarkable Achievement Award
Every once in a while, someone does something that make you think, “Wow! That was something!” The Remarkable Achievement Award is presented from time to time to a resident of Prince George’s County who has, through persistent work, overcome significant barriers to advance a solution to an environmental problem in their community. Recipients can include Sierra Club activists or others who make something good happen for the local environment.
How to nominate someone for the PGSC Environmental Service Award or Remarkable Achievement
To nominate someone for this year’s Environmental Service Award or a Remarkable Achievement Award, go to https://forms.gle/DBiWjwgvn8pcffBk6 to complete the form with the following information:
- Your name and contact information
- Nominee’s name and contact information
- Why you think this nominee should receive this award
- A specific example of the nominee’s outstanding environmental service or a description of the nominee’s role in the remarkable achievement
You can also contact any member of the Executive Committee to make a nomination.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY SIERRA CLUB ANNOUNCES AWARDS
The 2024 Environmental Service Award and the Remarkable Achievement Award will be presented at the PGSC Summer Picnic Potluck at Watkins Regional Park on Sunday, August 25, 12 N – 4 PM. Join the celebration! Register here.
2024 Environmental Service Award to Pamela Boozer-Strother
Each year, the Prince George’s County Sierra Club Executive Committee considers nominations for the Environmental Service Award, which recognizes a Prince George’s County resident for outstanding work for the environment in our County. The 2024 Environmental Service Award goes to Pamela Boozer-Strother for her outstanding work developing and implementing the Climate Change Action Plan for the Prince George’s County Public Schools. With experience as a parent and advocate for children’s education and safety, Ms. Boozer-Strother was elected to the Prince George’s County Board of Education in 2018, representing District 3. In 2021-2022 she chaired the PGSPS Climate Change Action Plan Focus Work Group, which developed a ground-breaking plan for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate resilience in Prince George’s County Schools. As a member of the Board of Education, she continues to work for on-going implementation of the eight priority recommendations. Regular reports document the progress of this important work. Pamela is also a strong advocate for educational equity and arts in education.
Remarkable Achievement Award to Anne Riley
The Prince George’s Sierra Club’s Remarkable Achievement Award is to be presented from time to time to a Prince George’s County resident who, through persistent work, overcomes significant barriers to make advance a solution for an environmental problem in their community. The Prince George’s Sierra Club is delighted to announce that the inaugural Remarkable Achievement Award is presented to Elizabeth Anne Riley for her outstanding work to establish a food-scraps composting program in her community at Riderwood. An emeritus former member of the Prince George’s Sierra Club Executive Committee, Anne is a long-time advocate for the environment who has contributed her energy and wisdom to many previous campaigns. Her neighbors count on her for environmental news and information about best practices. Starting small with her neighbors, she grew a system-wide composting program that is now being scaled up for wider use and greater impact.
For more about the awards and previous award winners go here.
2023 Environmental Service Award
The Prince George’s Sierra Club is delighted to announce that the 2023 Environmental Service Award goes to Maureen Fine for Outstanding Work Nurturing Local Ecosystems. The Environmental Service Award will be presented at a special community forum – Environmental Justice and You: Stormwater Management – on Saturday, October 7, 11 AM-2 PM at the Mount Rainier Nature Center. All are welcome to attend this fall meeting to celebrate Maureen’s work and to join in the community discussion about nature-based solutions for stormwater problems. Register here to reserve your seat at the table.
Each year, the Prince George’s Sierra Club presents an Environmental Service Award to a Prince George’s County resident who has done outstanding work for the environment in our County. Past recipients have included diverse professionals, government officials, entrepreneurs, and volunteers who have been recognized for their work in conservation, advocacy, education, legislation, environmental justice, climate action, waste diversion, and more. To learn more about past recipients, visit our website. The 2023 Environmental Service Award honors Maureen Fine for her Save BARC initiative, her work as a habitat advisor with the Prince George’s Audubon Society’s Wildlife Habitat Program, and decades of local environmental activism.
The 2022 Mike Maloney Environmental Service Award Winner: Mary Abe
The 2022 Mike Maloney Environmental Service Award goes to Mary Abe for Outstanding Work for Climate Resilience. Since 2005, the Prince George’s Sierra Club Group annually honors a county resident for outstanding environmental service. The award is named after the late Walter “Mike” Maloney, Jr. (1930-2001), a civic activist, County Council member, and attorney dedicated to the rights and the quality of life of everyday people.
The development of a Climate Action Plan has been a major undertaking for environmental stewardship in Prince George's County during the past two years. As staff for the County's Climate Action Commission, Ms. Abe worked tirelessly on that effort, bringing together the ideas of diverse Commissioners, consultants, colleagues, and county residents to develop a comprehensive plan for decreasing greenhouse gases and increasing climate resilience. Prior to joining the Department of the Environment to work on the Climate Action Plan, her local work on storm water management projects and ecosystem restoration showed her commitment to taking a nature-based approach to addressing environmental challenges. The 2022 Maloney Environmental Service Award honors Mary for her persistent efforts to decrease climate impacts on our communities and make Prince George's County more resilient as climate change unfolds around us. The award will be presented at the Prince George's County Sierra Club Summer Picnic at Cosca Regional Park on Saturday, July 9, 1-4 PM.
In recommending Mary for this award, here’s what co-worker Dawn Hawkins-Nixon had to say: “Mary is an environmental steward who works tirelessly to preserve and protect the natural environment. She holds strong reverence for the natural world and commits to taking a nature-based approach to addressing environmental challenges. She often looks to protection and expansion of green space to define a path forward to improving environmental health as well as public health. In the capacity of staff to the Prince George's County Climate Action Commission from September 2020 through January 2022, Mary oversaw the production of the Commission's Draft Climate Action Plan. She was truly instrumental in the development of this plan which lays out strategies to reduce the County's greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare for a climate resilient future.”
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The 2021 Winner: Secoby Wilson, PhD
The 2021 MIKE MALONEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AWARD was awarded to Sacoby Wilson, PhD, for his outstanding work for Environmental Justice. As a member of the faculty of the Department of Environmental Health in the University of Maryland School of Public Health in College Park, Professor Wilson works tirelessly for the cause of Environmental Justice through teaching, writing, publishing a journal, and convening public health professionals to draw attention to environmental inequities that lead to health disparities. We can’t create a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy without simultaneously addressing systemic racism and environmental injustice. Dr. Wilson’s work at the Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health Lab and his contributions to the Prince George’s County Environmental Justice Commission Report have laid a foundation for systemic change for a more just and sustainable future. Read More
Previous Winners
Previous winners are Mary Abe (2022), Sacoby Wilson, PhD (2021), Nancy J. Meyers (2019) Adam Ortiz (2018) Marian Dombroski (2017), Lore Rosenthal (2016), Mary A. Lehman (2015); Jacqueline Goodall (2014); Vernon Wade (2013); Dan Smith (2012); Bonnie Bick (2011); Kelly Canavan (2010);Paul Pinsky (2009);Carmen Anderson (2008); Imani Kazana (2007); Fred Tutman (2006); and Tom Dernoga (2005).
Other Awards
Sierra Club Special Service Award to PGSC Chair, Martha Ainsworth
In September 2017, the National Sierra Club awarded PGSC Chair Ainsworth a Sierra Club SpecialService Award, which honors members for their strong and consistent commitment to conservation or the Club over an extended period of time. Sierra Club President Loren Blackford cited Ainsworth’s “outstanding leadership skills, sharp intellect, fierce tenacity, and organizational savvy on behalf of the Sierra Club in Maryland.” She was nominated by Group members and local officials, recognizing the increased number of events and activities to re-engage existing members and attract new volunteers under her leadership. The story was published in the Bowie Blade News. See Press Release.
James W. Hubbard honored with lifetime leadership award
The Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club honored Del. James W. Hubbard of Bowie for his lifetime environmental leadership. Hubbard, who is retiring following a 22-year presence in the state legislature, initiated a broad spectrum of legislation that became law that improved Maryland’s air and water, and the health of its citizens. more