Take Pride In America® Announces Recipients Of The 2007 National Award For Federal Land Managers

WASHINGTON - Executive Director Heather Roebke announced today the recipients of the 2007 Take Pride in America National Award in the Federal Land Manager category. Presented annually, Take Pride in America’s National Awards recognize outstanding volunteer projects and efforts in a variety of categories.

This year’s awardees, representing the National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation are honored for their innovative approaches to recruiting volunteers and cultivating their volunteer programs.

“It is my pleasure to recognize these deserving Federal employees who actively engage volunteers in caring for our public lands,” Roebke said. “These individuals are serving their communities by enhancing the volunteer program at their site, and creating new opportunities for people to become involved. Take Pride in America is honored to reward their hard work.”

The following are the 2007 Federal Land Manager Award recipients:

• Kevin D. Brandt, Superintendent, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service; Hagerstown, MD
  
• Tara Whitsel, Park Ranger, Raystown Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Hesston, PA
  
• Steve Brimm, Project Leader, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Spearfish, SD
  
• Thomas M. Pogacnik, Wild Horse and Burro Program Manager, California State Office, Bureau of Land Management; Sacramento, CA
  
• Jack Simes, External Coordination Manager, Lower Colorado Region, Yuma Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation; Yuma, AZ

These individuals join a list of 12 previously announced volunteers who will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on July 19.

Take Pride in America® is a national partnership program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America’s public lands. It is the goal of Take Pride to empower volunteers from every corner of America to maintain and enhance our natural, cultural, and historical sites. Take Pride encourages citizen stewardship through an innovative public awareness campaign and an interactive website that showcases volunteer opportunities at natural and cultural sites. Foinformation, visit www.TakePride.gov.