In the past, EENM recognized educators for excellence with annual awards:
- The Outstanding Service to Environmental Education Award (selected by EENM’s Board of Directors)
- Dr. Richard W. Becker Award of Excellence in Environmental Education
- Outstanding Environmental Educator
- Outstanding Environmental Education Organization
- Rising EE Star
The Dr. Richard W. Becker Award of Excellence in Environmental Education
Award Overview and Criteria:
This award will recognize and honor annually an outstanding individual that has influenced students through the field of environmental education or service learning in New Mexico. The individual selected as the recipient of this award will have excelled in one or more of the following goals:
- Advanced environmental literacy.
- Advanced or engaged an audience in environmental stewardship, including service learning.
- Engaged an audience through connections to the natural world leading to action in conservation or environmental stewardship.
- Advanced environmental education or a program through collaboration.
About Dr. Richard Becker: With a love of the outdoors through hunting, fishing and wildlife photography, Dr. Richard Becker passionately participated in conservation efforts across New Mexico and beyond. He volunteered for many conservation organizations and was an active environmental educator. Always cheerful, Dr. Becker generously shared his knowledge about conservation, service learning, environmental education and the importance of Aldo Leopold’s land ethic while emphasizing partnerships and collaboration. This award reflects Dr. Becker’s commitment and passion to conservation, education and service learning. Please visit our page “Remembering Dr. Richard W. Becker” to learn more about his wonderful contributions to education and conservation.
Please click here to download the 2019 Nomination form – Dr. Richard W. Becker award.
Additional Award Opportunities:
- Demonstrates ability to successfully implement environmental education activities
- Encourages participants to make informed decisions about environmental decisions
- Demonstrates innovate approaches to programming
- Shows continued commitment to contribute to the field of environmental education
- Shows a deep commitment to collaboration
- Uses a lens of equity and inclusion when developing activities and programs in recognition of our diverse audiences in the Land of Enchantment
- Makes an impact on curriculum standards, proficiencies, or policies
- Demonstrates continued commitment to collaboration and partnerships
- Shows innovation and creativity in environmental education
- Contributes to elevating the field of environmental education in New Mexico
- Measures impact in programs and activities through assessment, evaluation, or some other means
- Continues to promote equity and inclusion for our diverse audiences in the Land of Enchantment
- Shows a passion and commitment for environmental education along with integrity and a strong work ethic
- Innovates environmental education activities and programs
- Contributes to furthering the field of environmental education in New Mexico
- Seeks opportunities for partnerships and collaborations
- Uses a lens of equity and inclusion when developing activities and programs in recognition of our diverse audiences in the Land of Enchantment
Previous Winners
Outstanding Service to Environmental Education
- 2018 Paul Mauermann, Sandia Mountain Natural History Center
- 2017 Molly Madden, EEANM, Friends of the Whitfield
- 2017 Jamie Radenbaugh, EEANM, Fenton Ranch, Manzano Day School
- 2016 Kathryn Venzor, Albuquerque BioPark
- 2015 Barbara Garrity, EEANM
- 2014 Dr. Elaine Hampton, STEM Education Consultants
- 2013 Becky Kerr, Four Corners School of Outdoor Ed, Bioregional Outdoor Education Project
- 2012 Kim Scheerer, Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program
- 2012 Amy Landers, Albuquerque BioPark
- 2010 Christy Tafoya, New Mexico State Parks
- 2009 Harlow Pinson, InDepth Learning
- 2009 Colleen Welch, New Mexico Game and Fish
- 2009 Kevin Holladay, New Mexico Game and Fish
- 2008 Dana Vacker Strang, Audubon New Mexico
- 2007 Dr. Debra Thrall, Albert I Pierce Foundation
- 2002 Lisa Ellis, Tish Morris, Mary Stuever, Rebecca Tydings
Dr. Richard W. Becker Award of Excellence in Environmental Education
This award was named in memory of Dr. Richard W. Becker starting in 2011. Dr. Becker was a passionate outdoorsman, conservationist and environmental educator. Before 2011, EEANM awarded an Outstanding Environmental Educator Award.
- 2019 Mollie Parsons, Santa Fe Botanical Garden
- 2018 Beth Dillingham, NM State Parks, retired
- 2017 Selena Connealy, NM EPSCoR
- 2016 Steve Glass, CNM
- 2016 Siobhan Niklasson, Pajarito Environmental Education Center
- 2015 Stephanie Haan-Amato, Asombro Institute for Science Education
- 2015 Joe Garcia, La Plazita Institute
- 2014 Dr. Chuck Buxbaum, Sandia Preparatory School
- 2013 Colleen Langan-McRoberts, Bernalillo County Open Space
- 2012 Christina Selby, Earthcare International, Santa Fe
- 2011 Tish Morris, NM Museum of Natural History and Science
- 2011 Eileen Wood, Mountainview Elementary School, Edgewood
- 2010 Jeremy Marley, Jemez Valley Middle School
- 2009 Elaine Smith, Santo Domingo Middle School
- 2009 Debaura James, Aldo Leopold Charter High School, Silver City
- 2008 Julie Hall, Albuq. Public Schools at Sandia Mountain Natural History Center
- 2008 Mary Erwin, Bandelier Elementary School, Albuquerque
- 2007 Donna Schmidt, Farmington High School
Outstanding Environmental Educator
- 2019 Sally Anderson, Sol Forest School
- 2018 Matthew Farley, Rio Rancho High School
- 2017 Kelly Steinberg, Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program
Outstanding Environmental Education Organization
- 2019 Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, Cedar Crest
- 2019 Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Albuquerque
- 2018 Asombro Institute for Science Education, Las Cruces
- 2017 Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Los Alamos
Rising EE Star
- 2018 Liz Douglas-Gallagher, Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program
- 2017 Hannah Perry, Sandia Mountain Natural History Center
Outstanding Project Learning Tree Educator
- 2014 Taylor Mayer, Sandia View Elementary School, Rio Rancho
- 2013 Noel Chilton, Coronado Elementary School, Albuquerque
- 2012 Carolyn Nesbitt, Manzano Day School, Albuquerque
Read more about our award winners:
- 2017 Award Winners - December 2017 - We were pleased to honor the following members of our EE Community at our EE Celebration last month. Rising EE Star – Hannah Perry Outstanding Environmental Educator – Kelly Steinberg Continue Reading →
- 2016 Becker Award Winners - December 2016 - Is environmental education for the birds? Ask this year’s Becker Award honorees and you’ll hear a confident yes! It’s for the birds and the water, soil, forests, people… The Dr. Richard Continue Reading →
- Kathryn Venzor Awarded for Outstanding Service to EE - October 2016 - EEANM is very pleased to announce that Kathryn Venzor, Education Curator at the Albuquerque BioPark, is the winner of the 2016 Outstanding Service to EE! Kathryn has served on EEANM’s Continue Reading →
- Garrity Honored For Outstanding Service to EE - February 2016 - During a ceremony on December 16, we honored former executive director Barbara Garrity for her amazing contributions to EEANM with the 2015 Outstanding Service to Environmental Education Award. Barbara has Continue Reading →
- 2015 Becker Award Winners - December 2015 - From a South Valley farm to a southern NM trail race, our 2015 award winners have taken environmental education and run with it! The Dr. Richard W. Becker Award honors Continue Reading →
- Join us to Honor and Celebrate! - December 2015 - Join us in celebrating Barbara Garrity’s retirement after 8 1/2 years as our Executive Director! She has been selected to receive the Outstanding Service to Environmental Education Award and Joe Continue Reading →
- 2015 Outstanding PLT Educator – Roberta Salazar - April 2015 - Roberta Salazar, Executive Director of Rivers and Birds, has been selected to receive the fourth annual New Mexico Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator award for 2015. This award acknowledges her Continue Reading →
- Dr. Elaine Hampton Wins the Outstanding Service Award - December 2014 - Elaine M. Hampton, Ph.D., was recognized for her long-term, sustained support and service to the field of environmental education with the 2014 Outstanding Service to Environmental Education Award. She was a Continue Reading →
- Dr. Buxbaum’s EE Work Honored with 2014 Becker Award - November 2014 - EEANM is thrilled to announce that Dr. Chuck Buxbaum, Environmental Science Teacher and Sustainability Director at Sandia Prep, has been selected to receive EEANM’s 2014 Dr. Richard W. Becker Award Continue Reading →
- 2014 PLT Outstanding Educator – Taylor Mayer - May 2014 - Taylor Mayer, first grade teacher from Sandia Vista Elementary School in Rio Rancho, received the 2014 NM PLT Outstanding Educator Award. Her nominator, Amy Waymire, provided this description of her Continue Reading →
- Becky Kerr Recognized for Outstanding Service to EE - February 2014 - Becky Kerr was the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Service to Environmental Education Award, presented at our conference in November.
- Langan-McRoberts Awarded 2013 Becker Award - February 2014 - EEANM presented the 2013 Dr. Richard W. Becker Award for Excellence in Environmental Education to Colleen Langan-McRoberts, Open Space Coordinator for Bernalillo County.
- 2013 PLT Outstanding Educator – Noel Chilton - March 2013 - Noel Chilton is the 2013 NM PLT Outstanding Educator of the Year! Noel is an highly skilled and dedicated educator, parent and activist. She was nominated by both her former Continue Reading →
- Christina Selby Recognized with 2012 Becker Award - October 2012 - Christina Selby, Co-Founder and Education Director of Earth Care and a distinguished member of the environmental education community, was awarded the second annual Dr. Richard W. Becker Award of Excellence Continue Reading →
- 2012 Outstanding Service to EE Awards - October 2012 - Kimi Scheerer and Amy Landers received Outstanding Service to EE awards at the annual conference. Both are now retiring from the Board. Here is a brief synopsis of their work Continue Reading →