Two Montanans received a national award at Montana Tech Friday for their displays of Evel Knievel-like courage in changing the environment.
The second annual Eco-Daredevil Award ceremony saw Missoula Big Sky teacher Kathleen Kennedy and University of Montana graduate Katie Makarowski take home the honors, which were first given out at Duke University in 2008.
A selection committee of nationally recognized environmental scientists chose the two women, who were nominated by their peer, from a nationwide list of nominees. The award's founder, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, presented the women with Evel Knievel helmets and other tokens of appreciation.
Makarowksi was honored for her work on freshwater ecosystems. She is aquatic biologist, sustainability advocate and a recent graduate of the University of Montana's Masters of Science in Environmental Studies program.
She said she hopes to inspire others to get involved.
"I think it represents the inherent value of the natural environment that I care so passionately about, but also the need for each one of us as individuals to stand up for the environment, for protection of our natural resources," Makarowksi said.
Kennedy, a teacher at Big Sky High School in Missoula, received the award for challenging her students to think beyond the textbooks in her wildlife biology class and for persevering in a controversial debate that saw her criticized by the public and members of her school board for teaching the dangers of consumerism causing climate change.
"I do feel like I have gone through something and had to basically get up and say I'm ready to go again, and that to me is the daredevil part. What I did initially is just do my job but standing up and not allowing people to silence information that needs to be available to young people, I will continue to do that," Kennedy said.
Dr. Nichols will speak at Montana Tech at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Read more about this year's honorees:
Bios of 2009 EcoDaredevil Awardees:
Kathryn (Katie) Makarowski is an aquatic biologist, sustainability advocate and a recent graduate of the University of Montana's Masters of Science in Environmental Studies program. Her advisors and peers describe her as innovative, courageous, determined and exceptionally effective in her work to sustain and restore our nation's rivers, watersheds and fresh water ecosystems. One recommender commented that "Katie used a combination of politeness, persuasion and persistence" to get the job done on behalf of Montana's environmental future. "Many students would give up when single, let alone multiple requests were ignored. Katie, however, was undaunted. She simply wore ‘em down with her charm and directness. She had the drive to do whatever it took that was ethical and civil!" Another colleague says "there is a greater purpose to everything Katie does...she embodies exactly the qualities this award aims to recognize: not afraid to speak out, but also genuinely amiable, driven, and accomplished - exactly the kind of person needed to spark environmental change." Still another reviewer says of Katie: "She has no car, eats low on the food chain, reuses/recycles everything, and all with a smile. She joyfully lives life large on a tiny ecological footprint. An exceptional act of courage in our consumptive society." Her passion for and commitment to our planet have attracted uncountable numbers of others to follow in her path.
Kathleen Kennedy of Big Sky High School in Missoula, MT is an educator through and through, loved by students and teachers alike. In her Wildlife Biology class she challenges students to think beyond the textbooks and critically consider the environmental costs associated with the status quo. For her efforts raising awareness of important and contentious environmental issues, in particular, screening the award-winning short documentary "The Story of Stuff" by Annie Leonard (viewed more than 7 million times online), she received many bitter personal attacks, felt abandoned and betrayed by the school system and considered quitting teaching. The debate and associated controversy reached the NY Times and filled many pages in local newspapers. But Kathleen, to the delight of many, has recommitted herself to teaching. As a result of this, she has attended many conferences and workshops on how to teach about environmental issues in an honest and fair way and her work has stimulated important discussions about academic freedoms. In the face of great adversity, Kathleen has stood her ground and emerged as a stronger and better teacher. The kind of teacher that will lead the next generation into a more sustainable future.
