Elizabeth Elverson Analysis of Storm Water Quality in a Restored Wetland
Jessica Meyers - The Effects of European Buckthorn on Biotic and Abiotic Components
Monica Leuking - Tree Species Composition and Size Structure in Southern Ontario Woodlots: A Baseline Study
Jenifer Palasik - A Baseline Inventory of Soil Microarthropods from Three Remnant Oak Woodland Communitites in Northeastern Illinois
Carlton Rauschenberg - Integrating Species and Ecosystem Function: The Consequences of Microarthropod Assemblage Variation in Oak Woodlands for Nutrient Mobilization in Laboratory Microcosms
Angela Opiola - Faunally Generated Nutrient Hotspots in Soil: Do Plants Care?
Morgan Jencius - Environmental Scientist, US EPA, Alumni '96 - Environmental Science: Life After the Classroom
Service Award - Carlton Rauschenberg
In any organization there are numerous things that need to get done to function efficiently. In our program the big need is to keep the research laboratories functioning smoothly. There is equipment to keep clean and organized, samples to store, instruments to service and run, etc. A number of people have contributed significantly to these efforts. But one student stands head and shoulders above the rest. The ESP would like to recognize Carlton Rauschenberg as the person who has made the most effort keep things running smoothly. We present him this award for carrying leaking batteries to the Shaw prairie; for running the Ion Chromatograph night and day, and on weekends; for making emergency repairs on the IC; for giving instructions on the IC and auto titrator, and for disposing of all unclaimed food in the building.
Leadership Award - Lauren Umek
One of the important lessons most of us learn in life is that things get accomplished because someone makes the effort to do them. Someone has to recognize the problem and take the initiative. That someone is called a leader. Our Program would not be successful without people taking the initiative and filling leadership roles. This is equally true of the college and the University. The ESP leadership award is to recognize one of our students who been a leader on issues important to the students and the university. We would like to present this Leadership award to Lauren Umek for her co-leadership of the University ECO group; for her help and involvement with the Tom Berry lecture, and for her contributions to promoting student learning, involvement and action.
Research Award - Carlton Rauschenberg and Angela Opiola
To understand the world better and improve our standard of living, we need to do research. It is how we increase our knowledge; it is one of the principal roles of universities. Doing research requires one to know what has been done, to have hypotheses of what can happen to have a reasonable plan to address it; and to have an open mind. The ESP wold like to recognize two of our students who are doing an excellent job in research.
TA Recognition - Elizabeth Elverson, Karis McFarlane, Patrick Liu, Zae Turcott, Nadine Remington
Our teaching assistants are an important component of our Program. They interact with and help our students. We would like to recognize their contribution to the effectiveness of our Program.
Lorax Award - Angela Opiola and Jennifer Palasik
Urban Forestry Award - Karis McFarlane
A cornerstone of our ESP has been the Urban Forestry Program. It has given us focus and has provided a number of our students the opportunity to learn and to do research. We would like to recognize their efforts and give particular recognition to one of them. The ESP presents its UF award to Karis McFarlane.
Certificate of Appreciation - Cynthia Brundage
We would like to thank Cynthia Brundage for putting-up with us these past many months, for keeping our bills and employees paid, for keeping us within budget, for dealing with the offices downtown, for dealing with the offices downtown, for dealing with the offices downtown - it usually takes three times to get anything done with them. And also, for doing all that was necessary to bring us back beads from Mardi Gras.
Outstanding Freshman - Joshua Neukom
Outstanding Sophomore - Bradley Bernau
Outstanding Junior - Carlton Rauschenberg
Outstanding Senior - Elizabeth Elverson
Cheesehead Award - Angela Opiola
People are diverse. They can live in the midwest, on the beaches of California, and in the outback of Wisconsin. It takes an unusual person to survive and even thrive in such diverse habitats. The fact that people can do it shows how adaptable humans are. The fact that some would choose to do it tells us too much about the human condition, and is support for the theory that evolution is now running in reverse. Anyway, in recognition of one who does what shouldn't be done, the ESP would like to present its Cheesehead award to Angela Opiola.
Erin Brockovich Award - Jorge Mihalopoulos
DDT was banned more than 30 years ago due chiefly to the efforts of a brash environmental lawyer, Victor Yannicone - 'Sue the Bastards" This was the beginning of using the courts to achieve environmental goals. Unfortunately, preventing pollution and getting laws enforced often still involves going through the court system. We need dedicated environmental lawyers. And with too many lawyers ending up at the bottom of the ocean these days, we need replacements–and fast. But we face the problem - would you want your brother or sister to be a lawyer?? But somebody has to do it. Thus we are pleased to present its Erin Brockovitch Award to Jorge Mihalopoulas but suggest that he avoid ocean-going vessels and perhaps dress less conservatively.
Paul Bunyan Award - Karis McFarlane
What is a tree? For most people it is something to plant, to grow, to trim, to rake the leaves from, and finally to bask in the shade of. But to the Forest Service, a tree is a crop, something to be grown and cut down. For most of our country's short life, progress has meant taming the wilderness; clearing its forests to make homesteads and farms. Now, we have an UF program, we need to 'bring in the cut' as they say. Fortunately, we have an experienced forester to lead us. The ESP presents its Paul Bunyon Lumberjack award to Karis McFarlane
Oscar and Felix Award (Odd Couple Award) - Elizabeth Elverson and Jennifer Palasik
Some people are forced to confront, coexist with, and even live with people with very different attitudes and cultures. The math major getting a theatre major roommate; A SOX fan moving to the northside; Vice-president Cheney's neighbor putting up a solar panel; Life has many examples of odd couples. The ESP would like to recognize those who face these special challenges, and presents its Oscar & Felix Award to: Liz Elverson & Jenny Palasik
Teddy Roosevelt Award - Darien Siddall
Natural areas that have been preserved in national parks, state parks, etc. are all due to the foresight and hard work of hundreds of individuals in the past. Most of these people worked quietly, but effectively. It took people with vision–like Teddy Roosevelt, and it took decades to get the first national park and the first wilderness areas approved. We need people with strength, tenacity and vision to work quietly be effectively on these issues. The ESP is pleased to award its 'Speak softly but carry a big stick' Teddy Roosevelt award to Darien Siddall.
Golden Waders Award - Elizabeth Elverson
Marie Antoinette Award - Margaret Workman
During the French revolution, when told that the peasants had no bread to eat, the queen–Marie Antoinette was to have said, 'let them eat cake.' The queen recognized that some things are more important than bread, more important than the staff of life. Also, you can only put butter on bread. But you get to put icing on the cake!! So while the peasants might have starved, they starved with smiles on their faces. In recognition of her valiant efforts to keep smiles on OUR faces, the ESP would like to present its Marie Antionette Award to MAW.
We HOPE that this will be a continuing award, and to encourage this . . .
Entropy Award - Dr. Liam Heneghan
J Willard Gibbs discovered entropy more than 100 years ago. The 3rd law of thermodynamics tells us that systems tend to disorder–to maximum entropy. Ecologists discovered this law in the 20th century. They found that the more diverse a system was, the more stable it was and the greater its tendency to survive, and that natural systems tended to become more complex with the passage of time. However, humans have a tendency to fight this law. Some seem to be born with an orderly or cleanliness gene. In fact, Martha Stewart has several chromosomes packed with them. But some people still follow, and are in tune with, the laws of nature. Liam's office, for instance, hasn't been in an ordered state since it was built. If greater disorder leads to greater survivability, Liam's office will survive a nuclear war. It holds the effective output of a 1,000 monkeys typing for 10's of 1,000 of years. It has been called the Library of Congress without a cataloguing system. Two FBI agents were around several weeks ago looking for some of their Timothy McVeigh papers. In recognition of his continuing accomplishments, the ESP presents its Entropy award to LJH.
In place of a present, the staff of the ESP would like to offer Liam something of much more use. When it gets filled, more will follow.
Dick Cheney Award - Dr. James Montgomery
The country is in dire straits; we short of oil & natural gas; the lights are dim; and we can get only half a tank of gasoline for our SUVs, ORVs and Humvees. Vice-president Cheney has called for all American’s to come to the aid of our country to find more energy. Fortunately, Texan’s of all persuasions are answering the call to drill for more oil, mine more coal, and dam more streams, to meet the demand for energy - - while saving and preserving and protecting the environment, of course.
Now many of you many not know that Jim Montgomery arrived in Texas early in his life. He is now a Texan with deep physical and emotional ties to the oil-patch down here. As a roustabout he 'spudded' many wells in his day - this being his first (photo)! But being a Texan, one was not enough - first the backyard, then the neighborhood (photo). However, President Carter and energy efficiency, and better gas mileage for autos arrived. By 1986 Texas became a depressed area. Jim left for equally dry, arid lands out west, and became a soil scientist. Then he came to DePaul and became the first Texan to become a wetland scientist (surface waters in Texas are more commonly called flash floods).
But he still liked wells - you can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the well out of the boy. Have you ever wondered about all of those wells he drills out in his wetlands (photo)?? He calls them lysimeters now. But what are they - - really? Now that Bush has called for oil-field development in all of our natural areas, the rational behind Jim's wells becomes evident. This is a photo (photo) of one of his 'lysimeters' taken two weeks ago. This photo (photo) was taken two days ago at what is now called the Somme Woods field.
To recognize his long-term efforts in support of oil self-sufficiency for our great country, while protecting the environment, the ESP presents its Dick Cheney Award to our own JAM.
Ralph Nader Award - Nolan Davis
Environmental accomplishments are increasingly achieved only through the political process. Environmentalists must be careful in choosing the right time and the right issue on which to make a stand. They must be very skillful in presenting their issues so that they will resonate with the voters. They must effectively use the press and their constituency to accomplish their goals on election day. Only by winning in the voting booth, can we make our planet GREEN again!
The ESP has elected to present its Ralph Nader award to that person who has best blended political science with environmental science, Nolan Davis.
