Harris Center Honors Teachers at
Great Brook and South Meadow Middle Schools

At its 40th annual meeting, the Harris Center also
recognizes Stephen Froling and Jim Orr for their dedication

HANCOCK, N.H., Oct. 17, 2010 –The Harris Center for Conservation Education has honored two local middle school teachers for their enthusiastic commitment to environmental education.

At its 40th annual meeting Sunday, The Harris Center’s annual Educator-of-the-Year award was given to Stacy Egan of Great Brook Middle School in Antrim and Emily Wrubel of South Meadow School in Peterborough. The two science teachers have been energetic partners with the Harris Center in a program that engages students from the two middle schools in collecting and analyzing natural resource data in Peterborough.

“With so many teachers doing terrific things with their students, it’s always difficult to choose one or two for this award,” said Susie Spikol, the Harris Center’s outreach education coordinator. “But Stacy Egan and Emily Wrubel have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to first-rate environmental education. Their willingness to try new approaches to hands-on science projects is one great example of their qualities as teachers. They have a remarkable connection with their students and will leave a lasting impression many years from now.”

Also awarded during the meeting was the second annual Lee Baker Land-Lover Award, which went to Stephen Froling of Hancock. Froling has been a dedicated advocate and coordinator of dozens of land-protection transactions on behalf of the Harris Center. As a board member and corporate counsel for the Harris Center, Froling has led the crafting of dozens of conservation transactions, protecting hundreds of acres in the Monadnock Highlands.

The Harris Center also recognized longtime volunteer Jim Orr of Peterborough, who has been instrumental in maintaining more than 15 miles of trails, coordinating other volunteers and making sure the trails are hiker-friendly. Orr, who is now 74, has been the Harris Center’s volunteer “Trail Chief” since 1989.

For more information about the Harris Center, visit www.harriscenter.org.

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Established in 1970, the Harris Center for Conservation Education is a member-supported nonprofit organization that:
• Promotes understanding and respect for our natural environment through education of all ages;
• Protects and practices exemplary stewardship of the region's natural resources; and
• Provides programs that encourage active participation in the great outdoors.