Two members of The University of Texas Marine Science Institute were recognized at the 14th Annual Conservation & Environmental Stewardship Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 3, 2016 in an event hosted by the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation. Director of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep, Tony Amos, was honored with the Legacy Award and educator, Carolyn Rose, received the Higher Education Award.
Awardees and support staff. Top row from left to right: Ms. Michelle Unda, NuStar Energy (Industry Awardee); Ms. Molly Edens, NuStar Energy; Mr. Robert Mungia, NuStar Energy; Ms. Amanda Terry, Animal Rehabilitation Keep at UTMSI; Mrs. Lynn Amos, Animal Rehabilitation Keep at UTMSI; Mr. Andrew Orgill, Animal Rehabilitation Keep at UTMSI; Ms. Alicia Walker, Animal Rehabilitation Keep at UTMSI; Ms. Tammy Linton, Animal Rehabilitation Keep at UTMSI; Mr. Tom Backof, Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Division; Ms. Lucy Guillen, Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Division; and Ms. Dimitra Guerrero, Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Division. Bottom row from left to right: Mr. Rafael De Castro, NuStar Energy; Dr. Larry McKinney, Harte Research Institute at TAMUCC (President’s Awardee); Mr. Tony Amos, Animal Rehabilitation Keep at UTMSI (Legacy Awardee); Mr. James Gill, Gill Landscape Nursery (Business Awardee); Ms. Carolyn Rose, Mission-Aransas Reserve at UTMSI (Higher Education Awardee); Mr. Chad Huckabee (Coastal Steward Awardee); Dr. Ana Paez, GROW Local South Texas (Non-profit Organization Awardee); Dr. Donna Shaver, Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Division (Coastal Community Awardee); and Mr. Robert Doemland, Mary Carroll High School at CCISD (K-12 Education Awardee).
The Legacy award is given to individuals that have made life-long contributions to the education and or protection of Coastal Bend natural resources, habitats and native species. Tony Amos, Director of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is already a living legacy. Tony is one of the most visible people in the Texas Coastal Bend with regard to cultivating the public’s interest in coastal wildlife and explaining the need for conservation of birds, sea turtles, and other wild creatures. “His passion and enthusiasm for conservation is contagious and we honor him with this year’s Legacy Award,” said Jace Tunnell, president of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation.
Carolyn Rose was awarded the Higher Education award for her dedication and effectiveness in educating Texans about the natural resources of the Coastal Bend. Carolyn is the Education Coordinator at the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Carolyn’s career with the Reserve began in 2009, and since then she has developed and taught many successful programs for the community, K-12 students, researchers and teachers. Her program reaches over 10,000 people per year with face to face education and hands on learning experiences within the Coastal Bend. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Estuary Explorium exhibit in the Marine Science Education Center, where over 20,000 people visit per year, including school groups and families where they have access to hands-on exhibits that talk about local research and give tips on how to be stewards of the marine environment.
“I thank the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation for recognizing Tony Amos and Carolyn Rose for these prestigious awards,” said The University of Texas Marine Science Institute Director, Dr. Robert Dickey. “I am so proud of our colleagues for their contributions to education and stewardship of our Coastal Bend natural resources, which have made this area a much better place to live.”
