The Pennsylvania Environmental Council announced the winners of the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Program which were included in the May 30 Digest. But, the finalists selected in that program also deserve recognition for their good work.

The Digest will publish articles on the finalists over the next few weeks to help inspire others to take positive action to improve Pennsylvania’s environment.

The Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Dominion, celebrate the achievements of nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, individuals, governments, and community groups that have made significant environmental contributions in the western Pennsylvania region.

Enviro Education

Enviro Education, based in Allison Park, connects students with higher education resources related to the environment through its website. Enviro Education is helping the leaders of tomorrow find the higher education degrees and certifications they need to make a difference in the environmental movement.

It provides guidance and information for students who will be making some of the most important decisions of their lives – where to go to school and what career path to follow.

Since choosing a school is just one part of the challenge for students, Enviro Education also provides quality guidance content, including informative articles, interviews with prominent environmental professionals, and how to apply for scholarships.

In 2004, it is estimated that 170,900 students were referred to environmental programs and information through this internet resource.

Lowell and Jan Steinbrenner

Carnegie Mellon University

In 1998, Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) strategic plan was developed and set a goal for the school to “change the ways the world thinks and acts about the environment, through educational and research methods and results, through issues raised, and through outcomes produced.” While the components required to meet this goal were present at CMU, they needed an umbrella organization to create synergies and generate new opportunities for the campus community, while increasing potential for regional and global impact.

Having a strong commitment to CMU and a deep concern about the quality of life for future generations, Trustee Lowell Steinbrenner (Carnegie Institute of Technology B.S. 1955, M.S.E. 1960) and his wife Jan made a $4 million contribution to the University to establish an endowment that would support a permanent commitment to the environmental goals of CMU. Established in 2004, the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research now serves as the nexus of campus environmental initiatives and promotes action for a sustainable region, nation, and world.

6/17/2005