Environmental Educator of the Year: Amy Umberger

This award recognizes a formal or informal educator who has made significant contributions by facilitating the development of knowledge, skills and passion in environmental education. As the driving force behind Dutch Fork Elementary’s pioneering “Crumbs to Compost” initiative, Amy Umberger has transformed everyday school lunches into powerful lessons in sustainability. Under her leadership since 2016, over 485 students have learned to sort compostable waste, diverting an impressive 30+ tons of food scraps from the landfill each year. 

Amy's hands‑on approach—showing students how their lunchtime leftovers become compost for school gardens—has made environmental stewardship tangible and exciting . Her vision has inspired students to adopt greener habits beyond the cafeteria and helped secure a $1,000 conservation mini‑grant to expand the program further. By weaving real‑world impact into the curriculum, Amy empowers children to see themselves as environmental caretakers, building a culture of ecological responsibility that reaches schoolwide and beyond.

Green Business of the Year: Arrants Outdoors

This ward recognizes an SC business that has made it a priority to install “green” business practices as example to other businesses.With over 25 years of experience, Arrants Outdoors offers ecological consulting, biodiversity and threatened‑species surveys, and immersive educational programs that connect communities to nature. Peer testimonials highlight his encyclopedic natural history knowledge and infectious passion, noting that “anyone on a nature walk with Josh leaves with a positive energy for the natural world” arrantsoutdoors.com. This award celebrates Arrants Outdoors’ leadership in combining environmental consulting with hands‑on education and community engagement, setting a high standard for green business excellence.

Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Keep the Midlands Beautiful

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that has been able to carry out a mission that includes environmental education activities. Keep the Midlands Beautiful, a nonprofit responsible for reducing litter, increasing recycling, and enhancing beautification, has had numerous team members serve as mentors for projects in seven to 13 Green Step schools each year across Lexington and Richland counties for several years, providing free supplies, support and giving presentations to students and staff.  Additionally, so far this calendar year they have given eight presentations to community groups, provided five tabling events, and have given seven TV interviews and a radio interview for a total of 21 educational events.

In 2024, their staff of three provided supplies for over 6,000 volunteers who removed almost 190,000 pounds of litter, including 860 bags of recyclables, at 738 pickup events including the annual cleanup of Lake Murray.  They also provided 58 educational events.

Outstanding Youth Award: Lilian Galloway

This award recognizes an individual or group of students, (ages 8-18), who have been successfully engaged in activities which foster environmental literacy. The recipient will also receive a $250 scholarship. Recently, Lilian earned a Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. Her project involved educating and inspiring the public to become involved in testing the health of local waterways. Two years ago, Lilian underwent training to become a certified water quality tester with Adopt-A-Stream.  She raised enough money to buy three testing kits and placed them in a variety of locations: two county parks near her home (one on a river and one on a lake), and at the Girl Scout camp in the South Carolina mountains where Lilian spent time every summer growing up. 

Lifetime Achievement Award: Arlene Marturano

A former educator and Christa McAuliffe Fellow, Dr. Marturano has significantly impacted environmental education in South Carolina. She led the state's participation in the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance's Landscape Analysis, providing critical data on environmental education efforts across eight states. Additionally, she developed the South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network, an outdoor education consulting firm, and has been a weekly garden columnist for The Columbia Starfor over 20 years. Her backyard garden has been certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and has participated in the University of Kansas Monarch Watch tagging program since 1992.

Environmental Journalist Award: Andrea Kelley

Andrea Kelley, a journalist based in Upstate South Carolina, has been named Environmental Journalist of the Year for her dedicated reporting on local government, public utilities, and environmental issues impacting communities across the region. As a staff reporter for The Journal – Upstate Today, Andrea has consistently brought attention to topics such as water access, infrastructure, and environmental policy decisions in towns like West Union, Walhalla, and Seneca. Her ability to translate complex civic and environmental matters into clear, compelling stories has made her a trusted voice in the Upstate.

Legislator of the Year: Alice Howard

This award recognizes an environmentally-friendly legislator who has demonstrated leadership in making environmental literacy a priority in governmental decisions. Alice Howard serves on the Beaufort County Council, representing District 4 with a strong focus on environmental stewardship, community engagement, and responsible growth.

Since her election, she has been a consistent advocate for preserving the natural beauty of the Lowcountry while supporting initiatives that improve quality of life for residents. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Alice has played a key role in supporting litter prevention, stormwater management, and long-term sustainability planning across the region.