Media Contact: Catherine Dehdashti, U of M Extension (612) 625-0237, ced@umn.edu

Extension educators receive national Friend of Conservation award

ST. PAUL, Minn. (2/9/2009) — The National Association of Conservation Districts presented the Friend of Conservation award to Kim Boyce, Lisa Hinz and the University of Minnesota Extension at the 2008 Conservation Awards Ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana on Feb. 3, 2009. Boyce and Hinz are leadership and civic engagement educators serving the east and west metro areas, as well as East Central Minnesota. They also deliver several statewide leadership education programs.

The award winners are the lead instructors of the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s (MASWCD) leadership education program. They, with colleagues in the Leadership and Civic Engagement program area, have trained hundreds of people throughout the state to become more effective conservation leaders at the local, state and federal level. The award recognizes that their educational programs have strengthened Minnesota’s conservation leadership, resulting in a significant contribution to the conservation landscape.

Leeann Buck, Executive Director of MASWCD nominated Boyce and Hinz for the award. “I value the insight, the professionalism and the educational expertise that Kim Boyce, Lisa Hinz and University of Minnesota Extension exhibit over the course of our excellent working relationship. Kim and Lisa continually demonstrate their proficiency in a number of areas related to leadership development and assisting our member in the public policy arena…By utilizing the educational tools and resources of the University, the team members are able to educate our SWCD board members and staff to address local, state and federal resource needs as well as enhance their local strategic planning efforts.”

Boyce and Hinz are part of a team of Leadership and Civic Engagement educators who work statewide to strengthen communities. This is the second national award the team has won. In July, a similar leadership education program won an achievement award from the National Association of Counties for its partnership with the Association of Minnesota Counties’ County Futures program. The County Futures program helps county leaders imagine new solutions to the problems of local government.

For more information about Extension’s leadership education program, visit www.extension.umn.edu/u-lead.

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URL: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2009/cv-award.html This page was updated Sept. 22, 2009 .
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