Press Releases

October 4, 2002
Environmental Leadership Award Recipients Announced by Southampton College

Four To Be Honored at Atlantis Marine World Ceremony on October 24

Contact:
Patricia Conway
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

The First Annual Environmental Leadership Awards have been announced by the Cooperative Education Department of Southampton College. A dinner and reception will be held for the recipients on October 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, NY.

"Based on contributions and individual achievements in regionally important environmental programs our Advisory Board selected these four individuals for our award," said John McCrudden, Director of the Cooperative Education, Internship, and Career Center at Southampton College. The Board selected the four recipients from the fields of research, government, education,and industry.

Peter Daum, chemist and division head in the Atmospheric Sciences Division of Brookhaven National Laboratory, has been selected in the research category. Daum's work is focused on the effects of the energy related pollutants on the atmosphere. He was the principle scientist of the U.S. Department of Energy-funded expedition to the Middle East to study the environmental effects of the oil fires set during the Gulf War and has led studies of photochemical air pollution around the United States. His work has had a direct impact on the strategies that are being proposed and implemented to control the nation's air-quality problems.

Selected in the government category is Marty Shea, Chief Environmental Analyst for the Town of Souhampton's Department of Land Management. Shea's department is responsible for developing and implementing natural resource protection programs including wetlands protection, coastal planning, pine barrens preservation, endangered species, land conservation, habitat restoration, and public outreach. He was a major force in protecting the central pine barrens in Southampton, and is credited with laying the groundwork for a critical wildlands and groundwater protection plan that will safeguard drinking water and preserve more than 11,000 acres in teh eastern portion of Southampton Town. He serves on the Central Pine Barrens Commission, Protected Lands Council and South Shore Estuary Reserve Council, and has taught classes on native plant identification and wetlands preservation at Southampton College.

Anita Wright, an educator with the Group for the South Fork, is the honoree in the education category. Wright was cited for her unparalleled enthusiasm in her work. She has created and taught environmental education programs for schools across the South Fork, helping to promote environmental literacy to over 1,500 school children each year. She initiated the OWLS program (Outdoors While Learning Science) at East Hampton Middle School and serves as an instructor for Group For The South Fork's summer field ecology program. Wright also serves as a mentor for Southampton College interns and assists with the coordination of habitat restoration projects throughout the East End.

Nassau County Legislator Lisanne Altmann will be honored in the Industry category. Altmann is the Chairperson for the Long Island Power Authority's Clean Energy Panel. She helped to develop LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative, a program that will spend millions of dollars on a range of energy efficient/renewable energy programs. She was instrumental in the installation of the wind turbine on the Southampton College grounds this past spring. The turbine is expected to generate 13,200 KWH (kilowatt hours) per year. The electricity is fed into the College's electrical system and is used by one of the dorm complexes.

Through the College's Cooperative Education Program, students are placed in jobs related to their major for which they receive academic credit. More that 100 businesses and institutions on the East End participate in the Co-op Program. Atlantis Marine World is a strong supporter of the program. Thirty-three students have been placed over the past two years at Atlantis where many of the full-time employees are Southampton College Alumni.

The event is being sponsored in part by Bridgehampton National Bank and Pine Barren Printers. Music will be provided by the Rob Turner Trio. Tickets for the Awards Dinner are $75 for the general public and can be reserved by calling (631) 287-8273. Funds raised through the event will be used toward developing future Cooperative Education and Career Services programs at the College.