Every year, the EMA hosts our annual Environmental Achievement Awards ceremony.
This event gives us the opportunity to acknowledge, recognize, and award those in the environmental industry for their outstanding efforts in the forward progression for environmental sustainability and change in three ways: student scholarships, company achievement awards, and as introduced in 2018 an individual legend award
In March, members of the EMA volunteer their time to partake in judging the environmental science category of the Science & Engineering Fair of Metro-Detroit. Based on our own judging measures that are similar to the official SEFMD criteria, we evaluate students based on their scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, clarity, and most importantly, creative ability. A student’s ideas and creative outlook on their science fair project speaks on how the future generations view our world and environmental issues from a different perspective.
Congratulations to all three of this year’s winners!!
FIRST PLACE
[ Junior / Salem High School ]
Graphene Sand Synthesis and Applications in Water Filtration and Desalination
SECOND PLACE
[ Senior / Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School ]
Increasing Soil Fertility via Carbon Sequestration with Slow Release Biochars
THIRD PLACE
[ Senior / East English Village Preparatory Academy ]
Measuring the Effect of Earthworms versus Chemical Fertilizer on Grass Growth
The Environmental Achievement Award is awarded to someone who has gone above and beyond in their work within the environmental industry.
This year’s winner was Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Senior Program Officer in the Environmental Program at The Kresge Foundation. In her position, she is responsible for managing two bodies of grantmaking: The Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Initiative and work focused at intersection of climate change, equity and public health. Jalonne is also a member of the Kresge Operationalizing Racial Equity Team working to address institutional racism in the foundation and beyond.
This year we are proud to have awarded not one, but TWO finalists: Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision and Eco Partners.
Our Legend of the Environmental Industry award aims to recognize individuals for their longstanding positive impact and achievements within the environmental industry. Their demonstrations of forward progression in the push towards environmental change for their accomplished excellence during their tenure are evaluated in five core areas: leadership, innovation, commitment, collaboration, and education.
This year, we are honored to recognize Robert “Willie” Williams, co-founder of Inland Waters Pollution Control as our second inductee. In 1973, Willy co-founded Inland Waters Pollution Control (IWPC), and served as the President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement from the company in 2008. IWPC, was a leading provider of high value-added solutions for critical infrastructure and specialized industrial environments. Under his leadership the company grew to over $80M in annual revenue with operations throughout the Midwest. Willy currently is president of Bulk Trailer Leasing Company which he founded in 1991 and has ownership interests in several other ventures.
THANK YOU to all of this year’s event sponsors – your support is what helps enable us to make this event as truly special as it is
