CONSERVATION DISTRICT 2012 Annual Banquet Awards and Scholarships - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BERKS COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT 2012 Annual Banquet Awards and Scholarships

Chairman’s Award  Henry E. Bohn, Jr. Henry has had a long and active career in the fields of agriculture and conservation. Born and raised on a Berks County farm, Henry has always had a deeply vested interest in the farming community. In addition to running his Wernersville family farm, Henry spent over 30 years working for, and running, various branches of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service, until his retirement in 1989. Henry not only dedicated his professional life to agriculture, but has also been an active member of the Gouglerville Grange for over 50 years. He has also spent many years guiding and assisting the Berks County Conservation District, first as a Director and later as an Associate Director. The chairman would like to recognize Henry not only for his dedication to the Conservation District, but his overall achievements for the agricultural community.

Farmer of the Year  The Paul Martin Farm The Paul Martin Farm is located in Maxatawny Township. Mr. Martin began working with the Berks County Conservation District, the Berks Conservancy, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2010 to help address manure storage and barn yard concerns. The focus of the project was to collect rainwater from roofing and the barnyard, and divert the clean water around any potential areas where it would come into contact with nutrients or sediment. By installing a properly sized manure pit, the operation is able to apply manure at the appropriate times, benefiting both the needs of the crops, and the desire to reduce manure runoff from fields. Additionally, stream bank fencing was installed so that livestock have limited access, preserving the streambank from erosion and adding filtration strips to reduce manure runoff, both which add to the protection of the Sacony Creek.

Erosion Control Plan Preparer of the Year  Stackhouse Bensinger, Inc. Stackhouse Bensinger, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary design firm located in Sinking Spring. The firm’s principals, Robert P. Stackhouse, RLA, ASLA, and Stephen H. Bensinger, PLS, along with their professional staff provide land development, land planning, landscape architecture, subdivision design, surveying, municipal planning, and engineering services. Stackhouse Bensinger Inc. continually submits high quality plans for Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management. Their policies of working with the site’s natural characteristics, reducing unnecessary earth disturbances, and maintaining open communication with the District result in better quality plan submissions, expedited review processes, and reduced environmental impact.

Erosion Control Contractor, Developer, of Project of the Year  Barwis Construction, LLC Barwis Construction, LLC is a land development/site contractor located in Berks County, founded in 2004. Barwis has a 3-part policy on E&S work that has proven successful: Do it correctly and do it once, communicate with the Conservation District frequently and openly on all issues, and when a BMP fails, address the issue as soon as practically possible- and refer to rules #1 & #2. These principles allow Barwis to consistently show excellence in quality construction and conservation of natural resources, and put a strong focus on the importance of erosion and sediment control and stormwater management in their work. Barwis continually exhibits excellent correspondence and cooperation with the District, stays up to date with current regulations and the most effective management practices and responds to issues as in a timely manner. Their attention to detail and strong work ethic set them apart.

Conservation Organization of the Year  Blue Mountain Wildlife, Inc. Blue Mountain Wildlife, Inc. is a volunteer organization that works to preserve the natural and historic Kernsville Dam Recreation Area. In 2011 Blue Mountain Wildlife celebrated its 10 year anniversary, and due to their dedicated efforts, the area around the Kernsville Dam has been kept from development, and impaired areas have been restored to a natural state with native wetlands and meadows. They have also made the area accessible for recreation with the creation of a trail system and river access points. Blue Mountain hosts an environmental education day every spring, as well as Earth Cleanup Days. 2011 brought many successes including: opening the 2-mile of Schuylkill River Trail between Hamburg and the Bartram Trail, hosting several tree plantings, trail repairs, and the completion of the second outdoor classroom.

Berks County Conservation District $4,000 Scholarship  Alaina Weinheimer Alaina is a senior at Wilson High School, where she co- founded the Wilson Environmental Club. Alaina is vice president of her high school’s National Honor Society, a member of Student Government, and is also involved in cross-country and track, competing in the Wilson Academic Challenge team, volunteering at the Reading Museum, and taking piano, ballet and tap dance lessons. She attended an Environmental Chemistry Camp at Muhlenberg College and in April will be participating in field studies at Wallops’ Island Marine Science Center in Virginia. This past fall, Alaina was voted Wilson High School Homecoming Queen. Academically, Alaina is in the top one percent of her class. She was accepted into Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in environmental science with a concentration on solar energy. Ultimately, she would like to work in the field of renewable resources.

Solon Phillips Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Scholarship  Ashley Mohn Ashley R. Mohn is the daughter of Steven and Karen Mohn of Womelsdorf. She is an 18 year old senior at Conrad Weiser High School, where she is active in the Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society and the Future Farmers of America. She is a member of the Western Berks 4-H Dairy Club, Berks County Holstein Club and the Marion Grange. Ashley enjoys public speaking and plans to use her communication skills to share her love of agriculture with others. Ashley is looking forward to attending Delaware Valley College to major in dairy science and communications with a minor in agribusiness. Ashley would like to thank the Berks County Conservation District and the Solon Phillips Memorial Association for naming her a recipient of this year’s scholarship.

Berks County Conservation District $1,000 Scholarship  Megan Gribb Megan is currently in her 4 th year of a 5 year Civil Engineering program at Drexel University. She is a resident assistant on campus, and is very involved in the Drexel Club Field Hockey Team, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and various mentoring programs. This spring, she will travel to Venice for 5 days to collaborate with another university on a research project examining urbanization impacts on stormwater and flooding. She will graduate next June, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Water Resources. Ultimately she hopes to obtain a job involving stormwater management. Megan wishes to thank the Berks County Conservation District for helping to make her college experience possible.

Memorial Endowment $500 Scholarship  Alexandra Rae Wagner Allie is a senior honors student at Wilson High School. She is very involved in marching band, chorus, National Honor Society, the Interact Club, as well as volunteering with several community organizations, and serves as President of the Wilson Theater Company. She has a passion for the environment, and completed a field course in Tropical Marine Biology in Jamaica. Allie is interested in environmental research and advocacy, and hopes to obtain a career in environmental communications. She has been accepted into the Honors College at George Mason University, where she will be attending this fall and plans to major in Environmental Studies.