Teacher and Student of the Year Awards: Apply NOW - Deadline is Jan. 3!

There are exceptional people making strides to help the environment every day. They are teachers, working to educate our children about Chesapeake Bay history and ecology. Or they are students implementing school recycling programs and teaching their peers about the importance of rain gardens. The bottom line is that there are people all over the six-state Chesapeake Bay watershed working to restore the Chesapeake to what it once was. Before heading out for winter break later this week, be sure to get your applications in for the Jan. 3 deadline for the Teacher and Student of the Year Awards sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Trust!

To help honor those creative individuals in Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Trust created its annual awards program.

Each year, the Trust awards more than $20,000 in grants, scholarships and monetary gifts to educators, students, and individuals committed to improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Through our awards program, we recognize individuals who stand out for their dedication to environmental education, community outreach, and on-the-ground restoration projects and programs. Recipients are judged based on criteria specific to each award category. Collectively, however, all recipients have one trait in common: a passion for the Chesapeake Bay and protecting its future.

The deadline is quickly approaching for two of the Trust’s award programs. A Jan. 3, 2011 deadline will be imposed on the Teacher of the Year Award and the brand new Student of the Year Award. Recipients for each will be announced during the Trust’s Legislative Reception in January.

The Trust wants to celebrate the good work being done here in Maryland and hopes that you will help identify candidates who should be recognized for their contributions.

Do you know a student or teacher making a difference in their local communities and the environment? Then PLEASE encourage them to apply.

Student of the Year Award
$5,000 scholarship to an outstanding student in Maryland
The Trust’s Student of the Year Scholarship recognizes a Maryland high school or college student who has shown an outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, Chesapeake Bay restoration and community involvement. You can access the complete eligibility requirements and apply online here.

Teacher of the Year Award
$2,500 award to an outstanding educator in Maryland
The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a Maryland educator who has shown an outstanding commitment to environmental education. The winning applicant will receive a $2,500 cash prize as well as (up to) a $5,000 mini grant to the winner’s school. You can access the complete eligibility requirements and apply online here.

Help us showcase all the good work being done to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Additional Resources:
Funding opportunities - Bay Backpack