September 16, 2024
2024 Richard Johnson Environmental Education Award winner Marie Miller with Johnson Family. Pictured left to right: Christopher Johnson, Marie Miller, Barbara Johnson, Marta Fiscus, Adron Fiscus, and Julian Fiscus.
Marie Miller, Associate Professor and Director of the Forestry Technology program at Allegany College of Maryland (ACM), recently received the 2024 Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award from the Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
“This award, given in honor of Dr. Richard Johnson, was established to recognize local citizens who excel in the practice of environmental education and who inspire future generations to create a better world,” said Dr. David Nelson, Appalachian Laboratory Professor and Director.
“Through her tireless work at ACM, the annual Natural Resources Career Camp, and other forestry-related educational endeavors in the community, Marie Miller consistently demonstrates the commitment to quality environmental education the Johnson Award was established to recognize. She is an exemplary choice for the 2024 winner.”
A native of Allegany County, Miller’s love of the outdoors first developed on her family’s farm in Flintstone and strengthened through her involvement as a high school student in FFA, Envirothon, and the Natural Resources Career Camp.
Years later, after completing the forest technology program at ACM and earning a B.S. in Forest Resources Management from West Virginia University, Miller began employment with ACM as the forestry technician, earning a Master of Natural Resources degree with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems through Oregon State University E-Campus while also working full time. Miller then obtained a faculty position with the ACM forestry program and is now director of the program.
A former student member, Marie Miller is an active supporter of FFA in Allegany County, serving on the county Agriculture Program Advisory Committee and hosting the MD State FFA Forestry Career Development Event yearly. She also regularly delivers forestry-related programs for people of all ages, from elementary school to adult learners and has been a presenter for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Becoming an Outdoors Woman and the Maryland Master Naturalist programs. She serves as Chair of the Allegany County Forestry Board, is a member of the Society of American Foresters, and is the curriculum coordinator for the Natural Resources Career Camp.
Marie Miller with 2013 Johnson Award recipient and 2024 guest speaker Steve Resh
Like 2022 Johnson Award winner Annie Stark, Miller follows one of her mentors, Steve Resh, in receiving the Richard Johnson Environmental Education Award. Resh, guest speaker at the ceremony honoring Miller, accepted the award in 2013 on behalf of the ACM forestry program.
The Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award provides $2,500 to support further environmental education activities of an organization selected by the winner. This year’s award will support scholarships for students in the Forest Technology program at ACM. The endowment supporting the award was made possible through the generous support of AES Warrior Run, Alliance Resource Partners (Mettiki Coal), First Energy, and numerous other donors over the past two decades. A committee of past winners and community members review nominations and select a winner each year.
Recent recipients of the Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award include Annie Stark (2023), Francis “Champ” Zumbrun (2022), and Craig Hartsock (2019). To learn more about the award and past recipients, contact Rhonda Schwinabart, Coordinator of External Affairs, at 301-689-7102 or rschwinabart@umces.edu or visit www.umces.edu/al/johnson-environmental-education-award.
Nominations for 2025 will open in March 2025.
