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Jenna Wait presenting the 2023 Michaud Award to Krista Daniels


Mary Cutler presenting the 2023 Joe Wright Award to Diane Lehman and Jolene Freeman


The Howard Michaud Award

This Award is given to an individual in recognition of their long-term devotion, dedication, and contributions to environmental education in the state of Indiana.

Howard Michaud began his career as a biology teacher in northeast Indiana, working summers as the first chief naturalist for the Indiana Division of State Parks. He then became a professor of conservation at Purdue University, where he stayed from 1946 to 1971. He was a founding father and officer of many conservation education organizations, including EEAI, and has been recognized in “Leaders of American Conservation” and “Who’s Who In America”. Howard Michaud was also named the first recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt award for an outstanding career in education in 1993. Howard’s contributions to conservation and environmental education have been an inspiration and model for all of those who follow. Anyone who has made a long time commitment in the field of environmental education can be nominated for this award. An individual need not be a member of EEAI to be nominated.


The Joe Wright Award

Through the years, EEAI has given the Recognition of Excellence Awards to recognize specific achievements in the field of environmental education. Recipients of this award have been teachers, naturalists, education project coordinators, and natural resource agency personnel. In 1995 the name of this award was changed to the Joe Wright Recognition of Excellence Award, in honor of retiring Department of Education Science Consultant Joe Wright. Joe Wright was the first recipient of this award.
Joe began his duties with the Indiana Department of Education (then the Department of Public Instruction) in 1968, and from that time on began stimulating interest and enthusiasm in teachers for conservation education. He was quick to offer encouragement and provide educational resources and expertise whenever asked. Recipients of this award are recognized for current achievements in environmental education. A recipient need not be a member of EEAI.


The Doug Waldman President's Award

The recipients of the Doug Waldman President’s Award are selected by the current president of EEAI in recognition of their assistance to the organization or contributions to the field of environmental education during the past year. This award is given at the discretion of the president and may not be presented every year. A recipient need not be a member of EEAI.


The Sam Carman-Warren Gartner Cornerstone Award

Beginning in 2019, EEAI has given the Sam Carman-Warren Gartner Cornerstone Award to recognize individuals who have greatly benefited EEAI over many years. Recipients of this award have been members of EEAI and contributed to the organization substantially.

Sam Carman and Warren Gartner highly impacted EEAI and were highly respected environmental educators in Indiana, Sam through his work with Project Learning Tree and Warren with Project WET and Project WILD. These gentlemen were truly cornerstones of EEAI for many years. This award is Given only sporadically to members who have greatly benefited EEAI over many years. Recipients do not need to be a current member of EEAI but should have a long-standing relationship with EEAI. 


Nomination:  If you would like to nominate someone for either the Howard Michaud or Joe Wright award, use this link to download the nomination form: Recognize Someone for their Good Work in the Field of Environmental Education.  2024 award nominations are due by October 1st.

Send your completed nomination form along with any supporting criteria to Jaime Golba at jgolba@discoverycharter.org.

Past Award Recipients

2022

Howard Michaud Award

Krista Daniels, Elkhart County Parks

Chris Remley, Tippecanoe County SWCD


Joe Wright Award

Jolene Freeman, Battle Ground Intermediate School

Diane Lehman, Battle Ground Intermediate School


2022

Howard Michaud Award

Dr. Dan Shepardson, Purdue University


Cornerstone Award

Donna Rogler, Project Learning Tree

Niki Schmutte, LaPorte County Parks

Darci Zolman, Kosciusko County SWCD


2021

Howard Michaud Award

Carol Good-Elliot, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center at Goshen College


Joe Wright Award

Alisha Zick, Dunes Learning Center

Erica Oliver, Ball State University


2020

Doug Waldman President's Award

Carla Gull, Inside Outside Michiana


Joe Wright Award

Rachel Woodworth, Education Outreach Specialist, DNR Fish & Wildlife

Jeff Ormiston, Allen County Parks


Cornerstone Award

Cathy Meyer, Monroe County Parks


2019

President's Award*

*Now the Doug Waldman President's Award

Awarded to EEAI and given to Doug Waldman


Joe Wright Award

Jennifer Davies, Avon Outdoor Learning Center


Howard Michaud Award 

Luke Gascho, Merry Lea Environmental Center


Cornerstone Award

New this year, to honor Sam Carman and Warren Gartner


2018

Joe Wright Award

Robby Morgan

Nancy Duffy

 Jodie Jordan

Wolf Lake Elementary School, Central Noble School District


Howard Michaud Award 

Donna Stanley, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge


2017

Presidents Award

Paul McAfee

Joe Wright Award

Vera VanderKooy, The STEM Connection

Claire Lane, Hamilton County SWCD
Jim Poyser - Earth Charter Indiana
Mindy Murdock - Zion Nature Center

Howard Michaud Award 

Jabin Burnworth, Manchester Jr/Sr High School

 

2016

Presidents Award

Warren Gartner, DNR, Division of Fish & Wildlife

Joe Wright Award

Alison Zajdel, Cope Environmental Center

Nicole Messacar, LaPorte County SWCD

Howard Michaud Award 

Nancy Brown, Elkhart County SWCD


2015

President's Award

Paul Steury, Goshen Middle School


Joe Wright Award

Sandy Belth, Community Volunteer

Howard Michaud Award

Fred Wooley, Pokagon State Park


2014

President's Award

Jan Sneddon, Earth Force


Joe Wright Award

Wanda Norris, Arrow Head Country RC&D Education Committee President


Howard Michaud Award

Ann Niednagel, Community Volunteer


2013

President's Award

Mary Hayes, Empower Results  and Brent Cummings, Jameson Camp

Howard Michaud Award

Kate Ferguson, Fort Wayne Community Volunteer



2012

President’s Award

David Garner, Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs

Bernadette DeLeon


Joe Wright Award

Clint Kowalik, Go Fishing


Howard Michaud Award of Environmental Excellence

Paul Steury


2011

President’s Award

Kara Salazar, IUPUI


Joe Wright Award

Krista Daniels, Elkhart County Parks 


Howard Michaud Award 

Paul McAfee


2010

President’s Award

Sam Carman – DNR-Division of Forestry


Joe Wright Award

Jan Sneddon – Earth Force

David Garner – Seasonal Interpretive Naturalist, Indiana Dunes State Park

Stacy Duke – U.S. Forest Service


Howard Michaud Award 

John Garner – Greencastle High School teacher


2009

President’s Award

Niki Schmutte & LaPorte Co. Parks & Recreation Dept.


Joe Wright Award

Al Walus – General Manager of Michigan City Sanitary Dist.

Laura Moyer – LaPorte Co. Parks & Recreation Dist.


Howard Michaud Award 

Mary Cutler – Tippecanoe Co. Parks & Recreation Dept. naturalist


2008

President’s Award

Deb Sachs


Joe Wright Award

Amanda Wuestefeld, Hoosier Outdoor Heritage Coord., IN Division of Fish & Wildlife

Indiana Wildlife Federation


Howard Michaud Award 

Dr. Lenore Tedesco, IUPUI


2007

President’s Award

Jules Erwin


Joe Wright Award

Jules Erwin

Paul McAfee


Howard Michaud Award 

Amanda Smith, Hamilton Co. Parks & Recreation


2006

President’s Award

Jules Erwin


Joe Wright Award

Glen Salmon, Director, Division of Fish & Wildlife


Howard Michaud Award 

Darci Zolman, Kosciusko Co. Soil & Water Conservation District

Niki Schmutte, LaPorte Co. Parks & Recreation


2005

President’s Award

Marvin McNew, Divison of State Parks & Reservoirs


Joe Wright Award

Amanda Wuestefeld, Division of Fish & Wildlife


Howard Michaud Award 

Don Van Meter, Ball State University


2004

President’s Award

Teresa Rody, IDNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs


Joe Wright Award

Lana Zimmer, teacher in Rensselaer


Howard Michaud Award 

Warren Gartner, IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife


2003

President’s Award

Paul Steury, Merry Lea Environmental Center


Joe Wright Award

Jan Stout, Miami County SWCD


Howard Michaud Award 

Ginger Murphy, IDNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs


2002

President’s Award

Paul McAfee


Joe Wright Award

Jill Pressler, LaPorte County SWCD

Joyce Weber, teacher at Parkside Elementary, LaGrange


Howard Michaud Award 

Cathy Meyer, Naturalist, Monroe County Parks & Recreation Department


2001

President’s Award

IDNR Natural Resources Education Center


Joe Wright Award

Carole Koos, teacher


Howard Michaud Award 

Larry Yoder, Merry Lea Environmental Center


2000

President’s Award

Deborah Messenger, IDNR Division of Soil Conservation


Joe Wright Award

Ruth Bender, teacher


Howard Michaud Award 

Millie Redweik, teacher


1999

President’s Award

Cathy Meyer, Naturalist, Monroe County Parks & Recreation Department


Joe Wright Award

Mary Cutler, Naturalist, Tippecanoe County Parks & Recreation Department


Howard Michaud Award 

Doug Waldman, teacher at Homestead High School, Ft. Wayne


1998

President’s Award

Darci Zolman, Kosciusko County SWCD


Joe Wright Award

Fred Walden, teacher at Spencer Elementary, Spencer


Howard Michaud Award 

John Rouch, retired teacher, Fairfield High School


1997

Joe Wright Award

Darci Zolman, Kosciusko County SWCD


Howard Michaud Award of Environmental Excellence

Sue Schlemmer, LaGrange County SWCD


1996

President’s Award

Shelley Mitchell, Education Director, Indianapolis Zoo


Joe Wright Award

Patricia Sirk, teacher at Woodlan Jr./Sr. High School in Woodburn

Greg Gerke, Natural Resource Specialist, Marion County SWCD


Howard Michaud Award 

Clyde Hibbs, retired professor, Ball State University


1995

Recognition of Excellence

Linda Johnston, Indianapolis Clean City Committee

Susan Sheets, 6th grade teacher, Cleveland Elementary School, Elkhart

John Russell, District Wildlife Biologists, IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife

Mark Bennett, District Wildlife Biologists, IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife


President’s Award

Susan Schultz, Environmental Education Coordinator for the Greenfield-Central

Community Schools


Joe Wright Award*

Joe Wright, Environmental Science Consultant, IDOE

*from this point on, the “Joe Wright Award” replaces the “Recognition of Excellence” award


Howard Michaud Award 

Sam Carman, IDNR Division of Forestry and CREED editor


1994

Recognition of Excellence

Barb Moore, IDNR Division of Forestry

Mel Lennox

Susan Fowler, “Harmony of Hands”


Howard Michaud Award 

Ron Dixon, Natural Resources Consultant


1993

Recognition of Excellence

Jim Eagleman, Naturalist at Brown County State Park

Marty Alenduff, Environmental Science Consultant, IDOE

Warren Gartner, IDNR Division of Fish and Wildlife


President’s Award

Sam Carman, IDNR Division of Forestry and CREED editor


Howard Michaud Award 

Dr. Marshall Parks, Indiana State University


1992

Recognition of Excellence

Rick Glassman, St. Joseph Co. SWCD

Sheryl Meyer, Anderson Highland High School, Anderson


Howard Michaud Award 

Joe Wright, IDOE


1991

Recognition of Excellence

Lee Sauer, Auburn

Nancy Kasdorf, Fort Wayne

Frank Williams, Westlane Middle School, Indianapolis


President’s Award

Doug Waldman, Homestead High School, Ft. Wayne


Howard Michaud Award 

Dr. William Eberly, Biology Dept., Manchester College


1990

Recognition of Excellence

Karen Farlow, Auburn

Pam Sommer, teacher in Muncie

Susan Schultz, outdoor lab coordinator at Eden Elementary School, Greenfield


Howard Michaud Award 

Emily Kress, principal of St. Lawrence School, Muncie


1989

Howard Michaud Award 

Howard Michaud, retired Professor of Conservation, Purdue University


1988

Recognition of Excellence

Ned Stump, teacher at Prairie Heights High School, LaGrange


Howard Michaud Award 

Cynthia Wiley, Hamilton county teacher

John Van Sickle, Marion county teacher


1987

Recognition of Excellence

Indiana Farm Bureau

Warren Gartner, IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife

Shelley Mitchell, IDNR Division of Forestry


Certificates of Appreciation presented to:

Darrell McGriff, Agronomist, Huntington County SCS

Jeff Cummings, Naturalist, Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area

Ron Dixon, Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District


Howard Michaud Award

Mary Cressel, USDA Soil Conservation Service

Andrea E. Hogan, High School Junior, Greenwood*

*The Michaud award was originally to be a 2-part award: one award to an educator and one to a student, which included

a $50 savings bond.  The student award was discontinued after 1987.  Andrea Hogan received the Michaud award for

her environmental education science project at the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair.

1986

Recognition of Excellence

Jerry Sweeten, Director of Asherwood Environmental Center, Marion


Special Recognition awards presented to:

IDNR Division of Forestry

IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife

USDA Soil Conservation Service


1985

Certificate of Appreciation

Sam Carman, IDNR Division of Forestry


1984

Award of Merit

Ron Dixon, Marion County SWCD


1981

Awards Names Unknown

Herbert Montgomery, Seymour

Jim Jontz, Williamsport

Marion Community School Corporation, Marion

Prairie Heights High School, LaGrange

Indiana Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America


1978

Achievement Awards

Don Winslow, Assoc. Prof. of Education, Indiana University

Audrey Tanner, 6th grade teacher at Northwestern Elementary School, Howard County

Carol Wood, 6th grade teacher, South Elementary School, Danville


1977

Awards Names Unknown

John Moody, Indiana University Southeast

Earl Dawald, 6th grade teacher at Monmouth School in Adams county.


1976

Awards Names Unknown

Joe Wright, EE Consultant, Indiana Dept. of Public Instruction

Clyde Hibbs, Dept. of Natural Resources, Ball State University


1975

Certificate in Recognition of Achievement in Designing Distinguished Environmental

Study Areas


Glenn Linnert, EE Director, New Albany-Floyd Co. Schools

Howard H. Michaud, CREED editor

Douglas L. Waldman, Homestead Jr.-Sr. High School, Fort Wayne


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