KOB hosts 26th Annual Environmental Excellence Celebration

People from all over Oklahoma gathered together on Nov. 17 to celebrate environmental excellence across the state when Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB) hosted its 26th Annual Environmental Excellence Celebration.

This event, which took place at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, celebrates the work of municipalities, businesses, organizations, and individuals doing their part to keep Oklahoma beautiful.

For 26 years, KOB has been recognizing Oklahomans who support the mission to empower Oklahoma citizens to preserve and enhance the state’s natural beauty and ensure a healthy, sustainable environment.

“Keep Oklahoma Beautiful’s annual Environmental Excellence Awards is our time to recognize good works and accomplishments from all across our great state,” said Jeanette Nance, executive director of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. “It is the time that our affiliates, partnering communities, individuals and corporations can be spotlighted for their efforts to help us keep a more beautiful Oklahoma. This time is always so special because we can recognize small communities, large communities as well as people young and old who share our passion to keep Oklahoma’s beauty running deep!  We absolutely love this chance to say thank you for all you do!”

Winners of Environmental Excellence Awards were Chris Coager with OSNI – Owasso CARES, Andrew Sartain with Earth Rebirth, Melissa Walker with Ardmore Beautification Council, Rick Miller with the City of Okmulgee, Sharon Atcheson with Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful, Okeene FFA Chapter, Earth Day: Celebrate CommUNITY, Russell Gaskamp of OPSU, City of Oklahoma City – Strong Neighborhood Initiative, City of Owasso, OKC Beautiful, Downtown OKC, OKC Office of Sustainability, City of Comanche, Sheriff Charlie Dougherty, Pittsburg Co. Drug Court, JCPenney – Enid, Cheyenne High School BPA, Lorrie Buettner’s 5th Grade – Cashion Elementary, Martha Peters’ 7th Grade – St. Joseph Catholic School, Town of Fargo, Pryor Main Street, Inc., City of Cushing – Cushing Pride, Operation Clean House, Town of Reydon, Twin Cities Revitalization Project, McAlester Main Street, Up With Trees, Urban Soul – Xtreme Youth Ministries

For more information about KOB, a complete list of award categories, and how you can participate in KOB programs, visit www.keepoklahomabeautiful.com.

(Pictured above is Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb, a guest speaker at the 26th Annual Environmental Excellence Celebration.)