Environmental Defenders of McHenry County honors award winners – Shaw Local

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County presented five awards at their annual dinner in March at 31 North Banquets and Catering in McHenry. The dinner raised money to support the Defenders’ paid summer interns.

The organization’s highest award, the Theta Award, was presented to Nancy Schietzelt for serving on the Defenders board as president for more than ten years. Schietzelt’s services also include teaching students about the importance of science and conservation, co-hosting Water and Natural Resources Protection Team interns, contributing volunteer hours to the Defenders, the Land Conservancy and other organizations, playing instrumental in forming the province’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan and recruiting hundreds of members to the Defenders.

The Government Award, given to a government group that has made significant contributions to the province’s environmental health over the past year, was presented to the Village of Bull Valley for engaging its community in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, marking the first Dark County sky ordinance and for the preservation of Thompson Road Farm.

The Business Award, given to a company that has gone above and beyond to prioritize environmentally friendly practices, was given to American Ad Bag in Woodstock for supporting efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags by donate excess bags to bookstores and other local businesses. non-profit organizations.

The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to the Water and Natural Resources Protection Action Team for recruiting 14 government agencies to sign the National Wildlife Foundation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and for their work to build the Defenders’ solar energy project accomplish.

The Young Defender Award was presented to Isabelle Gregory for her work as a spring 2023 micro-intern for the Defenders during the Earth Day celebration, the County Fair and as president of the Environmental Club at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake.