Please read all nomination information before completing the nomination form.

Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Dominion, this regionally acclaimed awards program recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of organizations, businesses, schools and individuals in a wide range of environmental initiatives throughout Western Pennsylvania, and pays tribute to those that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment in their respective fields. 

Rewards:

Each Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award winner will receive:

• $5,000 cash award designated to the nonprofit organization of their choice
• Custom-framed commemorative photograph
• Two complimentary tickets to the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Dinner on June 28, 2012 at the Westin Hotel and Convention Center, Pittsburgh
• Media recognition of your program and award
• Commemorative poster of your winning project
• Recognition and a full description of your winning project in the Awards Dinner program

Eligibility:

The Awards are open to any group, individual, program, company, school or organization located and working in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Nominations may be made by the person or persons involved in the activity or by a third party. Successful nominations will demonstrate measurable results and/or impact of the activities. Nominations will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges and Awards Program staff. Finalist may also be asked to host a site visit to demonstrate their program or activities.

Winners will be notified in early April and publicly honored at the 2012 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Dinner and Awards Ceremony on June 28, 2012 at the Westin Hotel and Convention Center, Pittsburgh. Up to five winners may be chosen. In addition, $5,000 will be donated in honor of each winner to qualified nonprofit organizations with environmental programs benefiting Western Pennsylvania; the nonprofit organizations will be designated by the winners.

Successful Nominations willdemonstrate excellence in such areas as:

Judging Criteria

Judges will look for qualities that indicate a genuine concern for the enhancement of the environment including, but not limited to:

• Relevance of Initiative. Judges will consider the reasons for this effort. Did the program or individual respond to pressing needs or notably enhance conditions within the community or organization? Was this effort planned, from its inception, to improve environmental conditions significantly?
• Approach to Solution. Judges will gauge the appropriateness of the proposed solution, as well as how wellthe initiative was planned. They will consider any unique or innovative aspects of the nominee’s approach to addressing environmental needs.
• Evidence of Impact. Judges will consider the specific, measurable results of the effort as reflected in the application materials – how well the initiative has demonstrated that it met its original targets and goals and how available resources were used successfully to achieve an environmental impact.
• Environmental Benefit. Judges will consider how the nominee’s work affected environmental quality. They will look for specific results, such as increased community awareness, enhanced environmental characteristics, economic benefits, public policy implications, and technical contributions.

Nomination details

Online submissions are encouraged, but nominations via mail will be accepted.

CLICK HERE to complete the nomination form online. Note: you are not able to save your work on this form. Draft your narrative responses in a separate document and upload the final version on the form in the appropriate field.

Each nomination is limited to four (4) typed, one-sided, double-spaced, 81⁄2” x 11” pages, and must provide responses to the following five questions. Please include the question with your responses.

1. What environmental need within the community or organization did the nominee address?
2. What kind of solution did the nominee develop to address the identified need? Describe any unique or innovative aspects of the initiative, particularly any special challenges overcome as part of the implementation and/or outstanding creativity involved.
3. What effect or impact did the nominee have on the environment? (Base your answer on environmental benefits related to community awareness, environmental quality, the local economy, public policy, technical contributions, etc.) Include in your response the scope or breadth of this impact within the community or organization.
4. What specific examples, data, or other evidence demonstrates the environmental effect or impact described above?
5. What other pertinent information about this nominee would you like the judges to consider?

In addition, all nominations must be accompanied by one (1) letter of support from someone outside the nominee’s organization who is familiar with the success of the nominated activity; someone other than the nominator must write this letter. This letter should explain the impact of the nomination, its environmental significance or benefit, and its relevance in meeting a specific need. Please include contact information for nominator and nominee if different. Include both phone number and e-mail if available.

No photos or supporting materials will be considered in the judging process.

Regular Mail: When submitting regular mail, a copy of the nomination cover sheet must be included with the application. Mail to:

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

2012 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards
22 Terminal Way
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-481-9400