Each year the Trust recognizes one volunteer, two educators and one student who have dedicated extraordinary amounts of time and energy to protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Trust announced the winners of its 2008 Awards Program January 18 at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in downtown Annapolis.  During the Trust’s annual Legislative Reception and Awards Program, Chesapeake Bay Trust Board members Paul Allen and Scot Spencer, along with Allen Hance, the Trust’s executive director, announced the winners of the Ellen Fraites Wagner Award, the Honorable Arthur Dorman scholarship and the Teachers of the Year awards to a crowd of legislators, Chesapeake Bay experts and community leaders. 

William Moulden was named the winner of the 2008 Ellen Fraites Wagner award, which recognizes a Maryland citizen who has shown tireless dedication to help preserve and project the Chesapeake Bay. William’s greatest distinction is that restoring and preserving the environment is NOT his day job or his academic background yet he has dedicated over twenty years to civic and environmental advocacy. By day, Mr. Moulden is a professional educator in the Prince Georges’s County Public School System where he has developed one of the State’s premier science and mathematics magnate schools for primary school-aged students. In his “spare” time, William sits on various boards, volunteers with multiple environmental groups and lives his commitment to the Bay.  

Heidi Anthony, a middle school science teacher at Radcliff Creek School in Chestertown, won the Teacher of the Year award for excellence in environmental education in an elementary/middle school setting. Radcliffe Creek School is an independent day school for children of average to above average intelligence with diagnosed learning disabilities in Chestertown.  Anthony’s work with these students, along with her activism within her community, is remarkable.  She exhibits a strong commitment to engaging her students in activism and uses the school environment to reinforce the message. 

April Wells, a science teacher at Catoctin High School in Frederick County, won the Teacher of the Year award for excellence in environmental education in a high school setting. Ms. Wells serves as the coordinator for the Environmental Academy at Catoctin High School. This position oversees course offerings, student enrollment, program requirements, and leadership opportunities for students. This smaller learning community helps prepare students for careers related to environmental science and natural resources. Ms. Wells has directly mentored more than 40 students who chose to pursue environmental graduation projects over the last 6 years. She has been the club advisor for the SOME Club (Save Our Mother Earth) for 10 years. Ms. Wells coaches the Catoctin High School Envirothon Team, twice qualifying for state competition. She also motivates and recruits students to participate in a paid educational experience through the Youth Conservation Core (YCC).

Beginning in 2004, the Trust launched its third award category, its Honorable Arthur Dorman scholarship, in recognition of a high school senior or college-aged minority student for his or her commitment to helping the environment and promoting diversity and tolerance for individuals of all backgrounds. This award was created in honor of former Maryland state senator Arthur Dorman, a long-time Trust supporter and Chesapeake Bay activist. Jerome Carter, a senior at Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, won this year’s award. Jerome is an active environmentalist and leader in his school.   He is the founder of the Black Awareness Club and the Rosary Club. He is a chair person on the Cultural Awareness Club. The Trust was proud to award the Arthur Dorman Scholarship to a student who has brought a new sense of awareness to his school on various topics from environmental sustainability to social justice.

For questions or more information on the award programs, please contact the  Alicia Levi at 410.974.2941, Ext. 107.

Last year's winners include:
Anne Pearson, Anne Arundel County Watershed Network and Alliance for Sustainable Communities
2007 Ellen Fraites Wagner Award * You can also read Anne Pearson's acceptance speech

John Sandkuhler, the Forbush School at Sheppard Pratt
2007 High School Teacher of the Year

Elizabeth "Pokey" Fair, Sparks Elementary
2007 Elementary/Middle School Teacher of the Year

Connie Liu, Poolesville High School
Honorable Arthur Dorman Scholarship

Past Winners of CBT’s Awards Program

Previous Ellen Fraites Wagner award recipients:

Charles Conklin, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, (2006)

Doug Hutzell, Beaver Creek Watershed Association (2005)

Mel Wilkins, Spa Creek Conservancy (2004)

Mel Noland, Baltimore County Forestry Board (2003)

Ilia Fehrer, Worcester County (2002)

John Flood, South River Federation (2001)

Edward and Patricia Nielsen, Chester River Association (2000)

Dr. Michael Beer, Jones Falls Watershed Association (1999)

Senator Bernie Fowler (1998)

Previous Honorable Arthur Dorman scholarship recipients:

Ms. Zainab Nejati, a senior at Poolesville High School (2006)

Ms. Christina Bruce, a senior at Owings Mill High School (2005)

Ms. Katherine Cruz, a senior at Mount Hebron High School (2004)

Previous Teacher of the Year award winners:

Lee Franklin, a third, fourth and fifth grade teacher at Kennard Elementary (2006)

Margaret I. Paul, an environmental science teacher at Towson High School (2006)

Alan Hammond, an environmental science teacher at Allegany High School (2005)

Pam Sherfey, a fourth-grade teacher at Linton Springs Elementary (2005)

Robert Foor-Hogue, a teacher at South Carroll High School (2004)