WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderMembers of the community honored for environmental efforts

Members of the community honored for environmental efforts

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Awards were handed out to a business and two individuals for their efforts to help keep the environment clean.

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful sponsored the 2nd Annual Earth Day Awards, which featured Philippe Cousteau, the world renowned ocean exploring grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, as the keynote speaker.

Forest City Gear in Roscoe received the Outstanding Corporate Friend of the Environment Award. The company has been working to improve the environment for more than 25 years, making changes to its facility and production process.

Harlem Middle School teacher Jackie Plaetzer was given the Outstanding Individual Friend of the Environment Award. Plaetzer is the leader of recycling efforts at the school and she spreads the message to her students, their parents and other teachers. Ms. Plaetzer was responsible for obtaining classroom bins and containers in the school cafeteria for recyclable materials and for organizing the collection of these materials on a regular basis. Every day she submits a "Green Tip of the Day" for the daily school announcements.

And finally, the Hutchcroft Environmental Youth Award was given to the East High School Key Club. The award is named in honor of long time Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful volunteer, Board member and Past President, Dr. Alan Hutchcroft. The East High Key Club earned the award after planting hundreds of oak trees, placing 125 recycling containers throughout the school and for educating school staff and students on the value of recycling.