FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2008
Richard Porcher, Jr. Wins Environmental Awareness Award
COLUMBIA – Richard Porcher, Jr., PhD has been named the winner of the 2007 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award at a ceremony in his honor at the Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Center, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
“Dr. Porcher has spent his life researching, cataloguing, preserving, and promoting the unique natural areas and special botanical treasures of South Carolina. Over the course of his career, he has introduced hundreds of South Carolina teachers to the full range of ecosystems in our state through his contributions to teacher education courses at both Clemson and the Citadel,” said award presenter Scott English, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Mark Sanford.
English said that in addition to his dedicated academic work, Porcher is the published author of several books including A Guide to Wildflowers in South Carolina (2001) and over 30 scientific papers. Porcher has also served as scientific advisor to The Nature Conservancy, South Carolina Heritage Trust Advisory Board, Francis Marion National Forest, SC DOT, Department of Defense, and other agencies and organizations.
The S.C. General Assembly established the S.C. Environmental Awareness Award in 1992 to recognize outstanding contributions toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina's natural resources.
The award is sponsored by DHEC, the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the S.C. Forestry Commission.
Previous winners include:
- 2006 – Rick Huffman, founder of the South Carolina Native Plant Society
- 2004 - John L. Knott, Jr., owner of the Noisette Company in North Charleston
- 2001 - James D. Elliott, Jr., founder, South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey
- 1998 - Yancey A. McLeod, Jr., environmental educator, Eastover
- 1996 - Beaufort County Clean Water Task Force
- 1994 - Marion Burnside, chairman, S.C. Department of Natural Resources
- 1992 - Rudy Mancke, S.C. Educational Television
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For further information:
Dan Burger (843) 953-0251
burgerdj@dhec.sc.gov
Jim Beasley (803) 898-7769
berrytw@dhec.sc.gov
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