This month we recognize Cyndy Lindahl, an Earth science teacher at Armstrong Jr-Sr High School in Kittanning, PA.  Cyndy is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a Michigan native who started teaching in Pennsylvania in 2003.  She has taught at Springdale High School, Otto-Eldred High School and currently teaches Science 7 at Armstrong Junior Senior High School.

This month we recognize brothers Devin and Roldan Kramer from Ardmore, PA, for receiving the 2016 President’s Environmental Youth Award for grade levels K-5 in EPA Region 3 for their work to save frogs and toads. The national award is presented each year to exceptional students who demonstrate creativity, innovation, and leadership to address difficult environmental challenges. The brothers’ interest in the topic was sparked by discussions about the number of mosquitos in their area, and the decline of predators like bats, frogs and toads, which feed on mosquitos.

This month we recognize 6th grader Reece Steidle from Mount Nittany Middle School in State College, PA, for his winning entry in the NASA Cassini Scientist for a Day contest for 2016-2017. The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants examine three possible observations taken by the Cassini spacecraft and are tasked to choose the one they think will yield the best scientific results. This choice must then be supported in essay. Reece is one of three U.S.

This month we recognize two Pennsylvania schools/districts honored by the U.S. Department of Education for being selected as Green Ribbon Schools. They include Coebourn Elementary School in the Penn-Delco School District and the School District of Philadelphia. Congratulations! Information regarding the Green Ribbon Schools in Pennsylvania is available online.

This month we recognize Kelly Lannutti from The High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and Heather Olson from Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School. Both of these Philadelphia teachers took the time to share with their students the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its mission to protect human health and the environment. Their students then wrote cards and letters to the EPA Region 3 office to show support for EPA's work and its employees.

This month we recognize the Penn State Brandywine Vairo Library for their support of national Earth science celebrations. This fall, the library staff created a display with books and an iPad with TED videos during Earth Science Week in October. In November, the library had a similar display table for Geography Awareness Week and even issued a formal proclamation to celebrate GAW. We are pleased to see the Vairo Library call attention to their Earth science resources and encouragement for their visitors to learn more.

This month we recognize Dan Leppold from Spring Ford School District in Montgomery County, PA. His nominator writes that Dan is a "popular, energetic Earth Science teacher" active in supporting PAESTA through social media and through several excellent pictures he has submitted for PAESTA's Earth Science Image Database. Last spring, Dan was selected to join the NASA Social team for the March 22nd Orbital ATK OA-6 Cargo Resupply Flight to the International Space Station.

This month we recognize Nicole Fuhrman of Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pennsylvania, for being the District IV winner of the 2016 NSTA/Shell Science Lab Challenge. Because most of Nicole's students did not learn science concepts in primary school years, they lack the knowledge to understand more abstract, complex concepts in high school. Hands-on activities make these abstract concepts concrete and give students confidence to delve deeper into the content.

This month we recognize our friends of the Healthy People, Healthy Planet Summer Camp & Community Project Incubator program at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Their one-week summer camp (June 21-25) will provide high school student/teacher teams high impact, immersive environmental education experiences, while acting as a community environmental project incubator by providing seed money for projects of the students’ choosing.

This month we are giving a "shout out" to an outstanding student! Here, we recognize Rohan Chalasani, a junior at Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh, PA, for being selected as an EPA Region 3 National Winner for grades 6-12 of the 2015 President's Environmental Youth Award. Rohan is recognized for his project, "Impact of Energy Consumption Reduction on Household Carbon Footprints."