Outstanding Service
Award for 2009
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William Hunt,
NRCS State Conservationist (presented by Shannon Carpenter)
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes distinguished
service to the Society over a long and sustained period of time and is
available annually to a Minnesota Chapter SWCS member who has ten years
or more of service to the Chapter. William Hunt has served as MN NRCS
State Conservationist since March, 1995. Since 1995, William Hunt has
been a leader that has strongly supported the development of the
Minnesota SWCS Chapter. It was William Hunt that encouraged the MN
chapter to put in a bid to hold the SWCS International Conference.
Additionally, he encouraged chapter leaders to consider holding a
conference to address Urban Sprawl. And yes, recently in the last few
years, he threw down a challenge to the MN chapter to consider putting
on an Invasive Species Conference. Mr. Hunt’s positive encouragement has
laid the groundwork for a successful Minnesota SWCS chapter. It is my
pleasure to award William Hunt with the Outstanding Service Award for
2008. |
Commendation Award for 2009
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Shannon Carpenter, NRCS DC (presented by Greg Larson)
The Commendation
Award recognizes members for service to their chapter and is available
annually to Minnesota Chapter SWCS members for their commendable service
to the Minnesota Chapter. Shannon has played a vital role as a member of
the SWCS Chapter. In 2004, Shannon chaired the Volunteer committee for
the SWCS 2004 International Conference. Shannon did a great job in
putting together details and executing the details in a positive
fashion. Shannon later became the Pres Elect and President for the MN
SWCS Chapter. Shannon became very involved in getting the MN SWCS
chapter back on the map. In particular, Shannon played a significant
role in the planning and successful implementation of the Oct 2008
Invasive Species conference that was held in down-town Duluth,
Minnesota. Shannon has worked tirelessly for the MN Chapter. It is my
pleasure to award Shannon Carpenter with the Commendation Award for
2008. |
Honor Award for 2009
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John Brach, NRCS State Engineer (presented
by Shannon Carpenter)
The Honor Award recognizes people for outstanding accomplishments
compatible with Society objectives and is available annually to members
or non-members for accomplishments in the natural resource field. John
Brach has served as the State Engineer for NRCS for the last several
years. John has been a leader in his position and truly epitomizes
NRCS’s mission statement of “Helping People Help the Land.” John leads
by example as an Engineer. He has been proactive in involving staff
people in the development of new conservation engineering standards as
well as in the revising of standards. John knows how important it is to
have technically accurate information when serving our MN clientele.
John has been a recipient of the Federal Civil Servant of the year. You
couldn’t find a more passionate employee that wants to help people do
the job right. John has a passion for conservation and getting the
conservation applied correctly to the land. John is deserving of our
recognition. It is my pleasure to award John Brach with the Honor Award
for 2008. |
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Merit Awards for 2009 |
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Winona County Soil
and Water Conservation District, Tim Terrill District Manager (presented
by Shannon Carpenter)
The Merit Award recognizes noteworthy
conservation activity or products of organizations, agencies or firms
and is available annually to a SWCS member or non-member group, agency,
business, product, etc. for accomplishments or contributions to the
natural resource field. Winona SWCD was the first Soil and Water
Conservation District developed in the state of Minnesota. Since it’s
birth, this SWCD has done a great deal of good in their county. Applying
conservation on the land is a top priority of this district. This is
evident, visually if you simply take a drive through Winona County.
People in Winona County are passionate about the results of conservation
on their landscape, this simply would not have been possible if it
wasn’t for the strong leadership and commitment this SWCD had to
conservation on the land! In August, 2007, Winona County experienced a
devastating flood. Again, the SWCD stepped up to the plate and worked
with local sponsors, Board of Soil and Water Resources and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service. The end result being, people were helped
and conservation again was installed in Winona County. It is my pleasure
to award the Winona County Soil and Water Conservation District with the
Merit Award for 2008.
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Student Scholarship |
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Holly Sandberg
Ms. Holly Sandberg is
a Water Resources Management Major at University of Minnesota,
Crookston. Ms. Sandberg is a very conscientious student and very active
in attending presentations and with club leadership. She serves as
President of the Natural Resources Club and as Vice President of the
Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society. She has worked for the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as well as Army Corp of
Engineers, among other work experience. It is my pleasure to award Ms.
Sandberg a $500 scholarship for her education on behalf of the MN
Chapter SWCS.
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Sheila Carleton
Ms. Sheila Carleton
is currently attending school at Central Lakes College, Brainerd. She
studies Natural Resources Management and plans to transfer to 4-year
school to complete a degree in ag education or agronomy. She has work
experience as a WAE with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service. Ms. Carleton is highly regarded as a hard working positive
person and it is my pleasure to award Ms. Carleton a $500 scholarship
for her education on behalf of the MN Chapter SWCS. |
