Environmental Concern Intern Receives Prestigious Award

Environmental Concern (EC) student intern, David Kramer, was presented with the 2018 Outstanding Intern Award from the Frostburg State University (FSU) Career and Professional Development Center at a luncheon held on October 26^th. The award honors students for excellent performance in off campus internships. The Career and Professional Development Center “empowers students to make career decisions and pursue the skill development necessary to achieve success in a rapidly changing, global workplace”. Kramer, a Talbot County native, graduated from Saints Peter & Paul High School in 2015. He is a senior at Frostburg State University, majoring in earth science with a concentration in environmental science. David first joined Environmental Concern’s team as an intern in July 2017. He wanted to learn about shoreline restoration, and to experience all aspects of the process. EC Senior Vice President, Gene Slear, commented that, “David was always eager to jump in where needed – every day, a different challenge and new process to learn. David started and ended every day with a positive, respectful attitude”. Kramer returned to his intern position during his winter break in 2017, and again in June 2018 after his spring semester ended. EC welcomed Kramer’s return to EC. He needed very little direction over the unusually hot summer months, and made significant contributions to EC’s initiatives during his internship. Jessica Lister, Vice President of Restoration at Environmental Concern, mentored Kramer during his internship experience. Lister commented, “David was a wonderful addition to Environmental Concern’s team during his internship, and we were thrilled to have him. This is wonderful news and well deserved. We are looking forward to having David work with EC in the future.” Lister also received a commemorative award from the University for mentoring Kramer. Dr. James Saku, a professor of geography at FSU, visited EC’s campus and toured several of their shoreline restoration projects with Kramer. Saku noted, “I was impressed with the work David had done within a short period of time. Using the skills he had acquired from taking a class, he was involved in excessive surveying of a shoreline.” Environmental Concern has offered training and intern opportunities to college students, graduate students, wetland professionals and teachers since 1985. As practitioners in the wetland field, EC has the resources to support and guide students and professionals through their career journey. About Environmental Concern Environmental Concern is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 1972 to promote public understanding and stewardship of wetlands with the goal of improving water quality and enhancing nature’s habitat. The organization accomplishes its mission through wetland outreach and education, native species horticulture, and the restoration, creation and enhancement of wetlands. For more information about training opportunities visit www.wetland.org.