DEP PRESENTS
WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS
(05/21) TRENTON -- In celebration of Women's History Month,
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley
M. Campbell today honored five New Jersey women for their leadership
roles in environmental protection and historic preservation. The
second annual Environmental Leadership Awards ceremony took place
at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton. The museum was one of the
first historical sites in the state to be preserved by women.
"These leaders exemplify the central role that New Jersey's
women have played in protecting our environment and quality of
life," said Commissioner Campbell.
The following award recipients were selected based on the documented
environmental benefits, innovation and impact of their work. DEP
considered environmental leaders in four categories: Advocacy
Leadership, Community Leadership, Government Leadership and Historic
Preservation Leadership.
- Maya van Rossum was awarded the Advocacy Leadership prize
for her accomplishments as Executive Director of the Delaware
Riverkeeper Network. She joined the Riverkeeper staff in 1994
as assistant director and was named Executive Director and Delaware
Riverkeeper in 1996. Since assuming the role of Riverkeeper,
Ms. van Rossum has provided regional leadership on watershed
issues such as challenging unnecessary fish kills at the Salem
Nuclear Generating Station and opposing dredging that would
lead to deposits of contaminated soil on land. Ms. van Rossum
is also an advocate of legislation that would reduce the risk
of future oil spills by allowing only double-hulled oil tankers
on the Delaware River and is fighting to prohibit DuPont from
dumping treated chemical waste into the river.
- Linda Gillick was presented with the Community Leadership
award in recognition of her work as chairperson of Citizens
Action Committee for Childhood Cancer Cluster (CACCCC) in Dover
Township. In 1996, the New Jersey Department of Health found
that children in Dover Township were being diagnosed with cancer
at a rate over 34 percent higher than the national average.
The mission of CACCCC is to provide the public with timely and
honest information about the investigation into this increased
rate of childhood cancer and to ensure that government agencies
serve the public interest. She is also the founder and Executive
Director of Oceans of Love, a support group for children with
cancer.
- Lulu Williams was also presented with the Community Leadership
award for her dedication as president of the South Camden Citizens
in Action (SCCA). The group was organized to provide South Waterfront
residents with a voice against environmental discrimination.
As president, Miss Williams coordinates SCCA's efforts to educate
the public on air quality and protection from environmental
contaminants.
- Eileen Swan received the Government Leadership award in recognition
of her involvement on the Highlands Task Force and the New Jersey
Highlands Council, as well as her ongoing efforts to preserve
open space. She is the former mayor of Lebanon Township in Hunterdon
County, and currently serves as the secretary to the Agriculture
Advisory Board. She is also the township's Open Space and Farm
Preservation Coordinator, and its liaison to the Hunterdon County
Agricultural Development Board. In addition, Ms. Swan serves
as a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Trust Fund and is a consultant to the New Jersey
Conservation Foundation's Garden State Greenways project, a
tool designed to help coordinate open-space preservation by
identifying areas of open space and linking them via a system
of trails.
- Anna Aschkenes received the Historic Preservation Leadership
award for her role as Executive Director of the Middlesex County
Cultural and Heritage Commission since 1983. Under her tenure,
Middlesex County has embraced its historic resources and developed
them into places of interest for visitors and residents and
the Commission has become a model for other counties' cultural
and heritage offices.
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