Keep Oklahoma Beautiful announces award winners
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, a statewide community improvement organization, will hold its environmental excellence celebration on Nov. 18 at the Embassy Suites in Norman.
Every year, the board of directors names five individuals or groups as recipients of board commendation awards, according to a news release.
Regina Turrentine, of Ardmore, will receive the lifetime achievement award, which recognizes at least 25 years of achievement in leadership, environmental stewardship and efforts that have produced improvements to the environment. While a member of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, Turrentine founded the Ardmore Beautification Council in 1989. She has been president of the organization ever since.
American Waste Control, a Tulsa waste management company, will receive the vanguard award, presented for embracing cutting-edge technologies and concepts in support of a sustainable planet. American Waste Control developed the first zero waste option for business customers in Oklahoma, transforming a landfill from a crucial problem to an environmental model. This company operates the only landfill in Oklahoma that generates electricity from emitted gas from landfills.
The Margaret Annis Boys Trust will receive the towering spirit award. Marga ret A nnis Boys Trust grants have helped enha nce parks, medians, schools and neighborhoods. Recent projects include preservation of Edgemere Park, installation of informational displays along the Oklahoma City trail system and improvements to Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School and Hilldale Elementary School.
The champion volunteer award goes to Donna Mackiewicz. This award is presented to a person who shows a record of at least 10 years of consis tently going beyond th e scope of his or her job to provide community, statewide and global environmental improvement.
Mackiewicz was a member of the first Oklahoma Master Naturalist class in 2003. She is a board member for the Master Naturalists and regularly volunteers for the organization. She serves as an officer for Friends of Martin Park and is a Girl Scout leader.
Sustainable Tulsa will be given the visionary leadership award, which recognizes a unique view for environmental or community improvement. The organization is a promoter of sustainability in Tulsa businesses and offers educational and networking opportunities to strengthen sustainability. Scor3card, a sustainability-tracking tool, provides financial savings to businesses while ensuring more ecofriendly practices.
To learn more about the November celebration and to buy tickets, go to keepoklahomabeautiful.com.