At BSU Earthweek activities COTE announced the receipients of its second annual awards program. The awards fall into two categories:
COTE Exemplar Awards recognize individuals or groups with significant accomplishments promoting the sustainable use of natural resources or the protection of ecological systems. This year's receipients are:

Diana Shaffer, Wildlife Resqu Haus
(Lifetime Achievement Award)
in recognition her record of significant accomplishments throughout her lifetime in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources or the protection of ecological systems—through public service.

Sheryl Myers, Highland High School
in recognition of her significant accomplishments in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources or protection of ecological systems—through the establishment of the White River Watchers and its support of habitat preservation and youth education.

Doug Spence, Spence Restoration Nursery
in recognition of his significant accomplishments in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources or the protection of ecological systems—through the native plant production, habitat restoration and environmental conservation undertaken by Spence Restoration Nursery.


COTE Green Initiative Awards recognize everyday activites, decisions or contributions that help to move Ball State University toward sustainability. Their purpose is to reward discrete contributions rather than a history of multiple accomplishments. This years receipients are:

Gayla Brasher, Purchasing
in recognition of her documentation of base-line data regarding current Ball State use of recycled and non-recycled paper, identifying the sources and prices of recycled paper, and instituting the purchase of post-consumer content recycled paper.

Dan Byrnes and Gonzales Barajas, Athletic Facilities
in recognition of the event recycling program instituted at the Ball State University football stadium and Worthen Arena.

Chelsea Cohen, Undergraduate Student
in recognition of the promotion of the Mother's Promise campaign to the Ball State University community during spring semester 2004.

Jon Creek, Muncie Community, Sierra Club
in recognition of cultivating communication among and establishing functional links between environmental groups in East Central Indiana.

Melinda Messineo, Department of Sociology
in recognition of the coordination of the design and implementation of a sustainability project by each of the 10 Freshman Connection Learning Communities.

Mike Planton, Facilities Planning and Management
in recognition of recycling advocacy programs, including composting, Indiana Recycling Coalition board membership, recycling video production and the continued greening of the campus under the Ball State University reforestation program.

Jan Segedy, Burris Laboratory School
in recognition of the planning, coordination, and installation of the Burris Laboratory School "Diversity Garden".

Paula Suda, Undergraduate Student
in recognition of the numerous contributions to the Greening of the Campus, including formation of Students for a Sustainable Campus, research for the NR Club Paper Recycling Committee, and implementation of a recycling program at UniverCity 2002.

Gwendolyn White, Department of Accounting
in recognition of the preparation of students for addressing, during their careers, the newly-emerging practices of corporate sustainability measurement and reporting.

Jack Willis, Facilities Planning and Management
in recognition of the work with the students of ID400 (Creating A Sustainable Future) including organizational, informational, and technical assistance as students in the course undertook energy-saving projects.

Advancement Services, Departmental Award
in recognition of the demonstration of successful resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operation exhibited by Advancement Services.

Natural Resources Club, Organizational Award
in recognition of its efforts to increase student and community awareness of environmental issues through Earth Week events.

Students for a Sustainable Campus, Organizational Award
in recognition of raising the Ball State University community's awareness of environmental topics such as paper reduction, recycling and reuse of materials.

Finally, in recognition of his outstanding and continued contributions to promoting sustainability and protection of the environment and for his continued service to COTE, Undergraduate Student, Nat Baker was honored with the award of a special COTE Presidential Liason's Award.