The Joseph A. Piehuta Prize

The Green Schools Alliance (GSA) established The Joseph A. Piehuta Prize in 2010 as a memorial in honor of Joseph “Joe” Piehuta of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whose vision helped to shape Sc3. This award recognizes a GSA Student Fellow who shows extraordinary leadership, commitment, and contributions to the goals of Sc3 and the Green Schools Alliance.

James Underberg, 2009 Prize Recipient

Eric Estroff, 2010 Prize Recipient

Joe was an extraordinary role model who, like the greatest leaders and visionaries, led from behind. He would quietly and modestly create the framework for projects to succeed, and others to shine. Joe’s counsel and advice was the backbone of every team and working group in which he participated. He never sought recognition beyond the satisfaction that he felt from doing the best job possible to help his colleagues make a difference. He believed in under-promising and over-delivering and was always able to help people work through the complexities they brought to the table, determine and clarify a vision, and craft a clear a path to reach the end goal. The result was always elegant in its simplicity.

Eligibility and Nomination

Sc3 U.S. Green School Fellows are eligible. GSA officials and SC3 cohort leaders nominate candidates for the next year’s award at the completion of the year.

Prize Criteria

Determination of the Prize will be based on an outstanding or exceptional contribution by Sc3 Fellows to the mission of Sc3 and the Green Schools Alliance. The Prize will be awarded to Fellows who, during the year following Sc3, have demonstrated exemplary leadership by outstanding fulfillment of an Sc3 Commitment, advancement of GSA program(s), or pursuit of an action or actions that further conservation and climate awareness on the local, national or global scale. Examples include an achievement, a set of skills, a creative idea or innovation that can be shown to have an exceptional impact upon their school, community of the GSA. The overarching principle in the review process is the principle of “making a difference.” The Award Committee will look for evidence of intensity, creativity, focus and a level of selfless leadership that results in significant achievements that support the goals of Sc3 and the GSA and the well being of the student’s school or community.

Selection

A committee, set up and managed by the Chair of the Green Schools Alliance considers nominees and makes the selection.

Presentation

The Prize will be presented annually at the SC3 Congress. An FSC (Forest Stewardship Coundil) Certified wood with hand engraved plaque will be awarded.

The Piehuta Prizes are handcrafted and generously donated by: