"The judges felt these entries deserved special recognition...."

Environmental Improvement

JENNIFER OWEN - Peggs
Five years ago, Jennifer Owen organized a comprehensive group effort to preserve Spring Creek in northeast Oklahoma. Today that group - The Spring Creek Coalition - numbers more than 100. The creek and the watershed are out of immediate danger and the ongoing educational programs she began are making an enormous difference in the future prospects of this natural resource. According to her peers, no one makes more of a contribution to this project than Jennifer Owen and no one deserves more credit for its outstanding success. Named Woman of the Year in 1998 by the "Progressive Farmer" magazine, this rancher, farmer, mother and environmental activist can add another trophy to her shelf. JENNIFER OWEN IS GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!

Education & Promotion

DESTINY MARIE GUALCO
She's a young woman of 13 with a passion for the environment and everyone who meets Destiny Marie Gualco is impressed with her enthusiasm and level of involvement. Destiny lives on her family's ranch in Tyron, and is active in 4-H, the Technology Students' Association and is a Jr. volunteer for her County Conservation Commission. Through these groups, she takes advantage of every opportunity to make people more aware of their environmental responsibilities. You'll find her making speeches, giving hazardous chemicals demonstrations, and writing magazine articles. She's won awards before for her devotion to the environment and we believe she'll be heard from again! DESTINY MARIE GUALCO is GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!

Beautification & Landscaping

LENORA MOUSER - Hooker, OK
The town of Hooker - in the panhandle - is becoming a thing of beauty and many are blaming master gardener Lenora Mouser. She began by beautifying her own yard and has expanded her labors into the entire communityinspiring other individuals and groups to do likewise. Lenora shares her green thumb and her sense of beauty with more and more people as her lovely gardens in Hooker continue to flourish. She's able to encourage the involvement of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Lions Club and other organizations to reach their common goal of lovely parks for Hooker. Lenora's special touch can be seen throughout the entire community and we're proud to tell you that she's GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!

Beautification & Landscaping

THE BRENT UKENS FAMILY - Hooker, OK
Brent and Kim Ukens and their young son Hayden are wonderful examples of individual effort in city beautification and landscaping. This family spends time almost every day helping to care for the community of Hooker so that it's a better place for everyone. The Ukens became involved with the Hooker Main Street program in an effort to provide members of their family with a living memorial and to give back to the community that had reached out to them in their loss. They've set an example of giving in their small town and say that they gain much as a family by spending quality time together for a meaningful purpose. For the Brent Ukens family, beautification is a true family affair. AND THAT COULDN'T BE BETTER NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA'S ENVIRONMENT!

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