Greater Cincinnati Earth Day

2025 Environmental Awards

Environmental Awards for Student, Volunteer, Teacher, Business, Government Agency

The deadline for the award nomination form has been extended, it is now March 27, 2025.

In 250 words or less explain why the nominee deserves this award: explain accomplishments or activities, impact on the environment/community, etc.

Send to contest@cincinnatiearthday.org

Download copy of nomination form here

Do you know anyone whose efforts on behalf of the environment have made Greater Cincinnati a better place to live?

Well, the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition (GCEC) is looking for nominations in the following categories:

• Business/Organization - Nominee work must be for a business as an employee or consultant.

• Student - Nominee must be enrolled in K-12th grade or college. Work must be performed as student; clubs are acceptable.

• Teacher - Nominee must be a teacher for K-12th grade, college, or day care. Home School is allowed.

• Volunteer - Nominee must be nominated for work done as a citizen/volunteer, not paid by a Business or Agency.

• Government - Nominee must work for a government agency.

2025 Environmental Award Winners

Business/Organization, WVXU - Their new building is a mass timber design. Mass timber means the structural members are made of massive laminated wood beams, some are five feet deep. Mass timber sequesters carbon, uses less carbon to manufacturer, and is biophilc by nature. Mimicing nature in building design has a beneficial effects on the occupants. (nominated by Chuck Lohre)

Student, Sophie Krumm - Walnut Hills High School - Sophie Krumm co-founded Ohio Collaboration of Youth Climate Leaders (AKA OCYCL) at Walnut Hills High School in sophomore year. With the combined help from their club members, Citizens Climate Lobby, and the CPS School Board, Sophie was a leader in passing the Electrification and Renewable Energy Resolution, propelling CPS into a future in which clean energy is considered and potentially used in all new energy purchases. OCYCL became the first youth climate club in the nation to pass a resolution through the Citizens’ Climate Lobby youth program. Sophie shared OCYCL’s success via Zoom to climate advocates across the country and on a regional level, at the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. Sophie helped OCYCL receive a $5000 Seeds of Change Grant from Cincinnati to fund OCYCL’s Climate Advocates Project: a series of informational poster about local green job pathways. These sets will be distributed to schools across the city free of charge. Sophie is a volunteer and staff member at the Cincinnati Nature Center. Sophie is also a team captain of both their schools cross country and long-distance track team, a long-time violinist, and peer tutor.

Teacher, Melissa Riggs - Science teacher at Walnut Hills High School teaching AP Environmental Science, Botany, Biology, and non-honors level Environmental Science. She is also the advisor for Walnut Hills’ Green Club.

Melissa has made a profound impact on both her students and her community through her immersive teaching methods and commitment to sustainability and accessibility. One example is a water pollution lab where students analyze dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrates, coliform, etc. With these lessons, Melissa and her students began an experiment on the school's pond to demonstrate the impacts of pollution and contamination on a local ecosystem. Melissa hopes this will bring light to the importance of biodiversity.

Beyond academics, Melissa has begun an initiative to increase access to organic produce. Green Club uses hydroponics, aquaponics, and greenhouses to grow fresh produce year round to provide to local food banks and pantries. Melissa has begun a school composting program to reduce organic waste. Green Club has also partnered with Bio-Eco Club to restore Walnut Woods by removing invasive species, replanting native trees, and improving the surface run-off situation. Through these efforts, Melissa has helped raise awareness about wilderness conservation and food insecurity in her community.

She has worked with the Civic Garden Center, Greenacres, Burger Farms, and many more local organizations. She is also conducting a field trip with her students to Fernald Preserve to conduct a hands-on experience with wetlands and grasslands.

I strongly believe that these qualities make her an excellent candidate for this year's Environmental Award. (nominated by Hannah Kim)

Teacher, Missy Mirus - Goshen Local Schools system. She is a passionate teacher who has eight biological children herself and was also a surrogate for a family who could not have children. She is kind, generous and does more good works than I can list, both within her own family and the Goshen Local Schools Family.

She is very involved with giving and teaching opportunities for basic life skills that many children no longer have. She teaches children to serve the homeless and less fortunate and also practices what she preaches. She has children outdoors at every possible moment and is a tireless advocate for everyone under her charge. She is a teacher that leads by example. With all she does, she still finds time to coach children’s sports and organize blanket drives for those who need to stay warm. If every child learned what community means from Missy Myrus our world would be a much different, better place. (nominated by Rebecca Geiger)

Volunteer, Carla Foster has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to environmental stewardship and community revitalization in the Roselawn neighborhood of Cincinnati. As the Executive Vice President and Beautification Chair of the Roselawn Community Council, Carla has been the driving force behind numerous initiatives that have improved the local environment and enhanced neighborhood pride.

Carla’s leadership has been vital in organizing regular cleanup events that have significantly reduced litter and improved the aesthetic appeal of Roselawn. Through her collaboration with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, she successfully led Great American Cleanup events that mobilized residents to take ownership of their community’s cleanliness. Her efforts earned her recognition from the organization for her dedication to environmental preservation.

Beyond cleanups, Carla has implemented sustainable projects that directly benefit the community. She played a key role in building standing garden beds for elderly residents at the Delores H. Bland Senior Day Center, promoting wellness, pride, and an active lifestyle. Additionally, her work with Roselawn Condon School resulted in a greenhouse and school garden that teach students about food insecurities while fostering a deeper connection to nature. Carla’s innovative sensory garden project, funded by a Seeds of Change Grant, further reflects her dedication to creating green spaces that benefit the environment and improve mental well-being.

Through her tireless efforts, Carla has empowered residents, fostered environmental responsibility, and created a cleaner, greener, and more engaged Roselawn community. Her dedication makes her an outstanding candidate for the Environmental Award. (nominated by Annie Ruth (Napier)

Government Employee, Greg Landsman - In times like these, it’s refreashing to have a legislator that will fight for the environment. From organizing, protests, and town halls; to responding personally to correspondence, Greg is an exemplary public servant, always ready to explain our government process to us and take action. (nominated by Chuck Lohre)