Maine Environmental Changemakers Network Wins 2019 UL Innovative Education Award!

We have exciting news to share with our MEEA community – our Maine Environmental Changemakers Network has been honored for our excellence in environmental education as a 2019 UL Innovative Education Award (ULIEA) winner!

The UL Innovative Education Award is celebrating five years of recognizing organizations in the United States and Canada that demonstrate effective educational programming and community engagement. The program is supported through a partnership between Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). To celebrate UL’s 125th Anniversary, six ULIEA winners were selected.

We are thrilled to be honored as a third-teir winner and to receive $25,000! (Want to see our team surprised with the announcement of winning? Watch this fun video to see our reaction!)

We are so honored to be selected for this incredibly competitive award and are really excited to use these funds to help support Maine youth in our network as they launch their own environmental action projects in their schools or communities and gain access to additional leadership training. We are so deeply grateful to all the amazing youth, and adult mentors who have made this program a success and to the organizations who have supported the growth of this network!

While winning provides invaluable support for us to continue to refine and develop our programs, we are also excited to join the established network of ULIEA alumni awardees. Last week we met in Chicago with our fellow 2019 winners, along with experts from UL and NAAEE, to further discuss environmental STEM education and how we can collaborate on social impact projects to engage youth, inspire leadership, and drive sustainable change.

“It is truly a privilege to recognize the important work of the UL Innovative Education Award winners, and to help them continue to bring unique and engaging learning opportunities to students in their regions,” said Cara Gizzi, VP of Education and Outreach, Underwriters Laboratories. “Over the past five years, 26 total winners received over $1.275 million to support environmental STEM programs, and they’ve built a strong network with like-minded organizations around the U.S. and Canada. This year’s cohort reaches a diverse group of audiences with innovative programming that can serve as a model for programs around the globe.”

To learn more about the UL Innovative Education Award, please visit ulinnovationeducation.naaee.net.