By UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Mandy Kern, program specialist at Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center, was awarded the Connie Elpers Rising Star Award at the 2019 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Awards banquet on Friday, April 5, in Manhattan.
The Kansas Association of Conservation and Environmental Education hosted the banquet. Their goal is to promote and support science based environmental education programs and curricula in Kansas.
Kern began working at KWEC in June 2018 as a program specialist. She is in charge of sixth-grade through college-level programs as well as various public, scouting and 4-H programs.
“In her time at the KWEC, Kern has received three small educational grants, one which she used to create two KidWind Challenge Teams. The goal of this program is to teach about alternative energy and STEM learning outcomes,” said Curtis Wolf, director of the KWEC.
“Mandy has indicated a real commitment and passion to environmental education,” said Wolf.
Kern also offered two Drop-In STEM days at KWEC which had multiple activities related to STEM and offered environmental education training to FHSU elementary science methods students.
“I hope to provide opportunities and pass on environmental literacy to my own children,” said Kern.