Alyx Cunningham of Boling High School and Betty Reck of St. Philip Catholic School in El Campo were recognized for outstanding contributions to the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Program at an Area III awards banquet on May 7 in Refugio.
Area III consists of 50 counties in South Texas. Wharton County Soil and Water Conservation District No. 342 nominated Cunningham and Reck to this area level of competition.
Categories for awards included: outstanding conservation district; resident conservation rancher; resident conservation farmer; absentee conservation rancher; water quality management plan; business/professional individual; conservation teacher; wildlife conservationist; and conservation homemaker. Additional awards were presented for outstanding posters and essays on soil and water conservation by youth in the area.
Cunningham received the first place award in the high school essay contest. Reck received the first place award for outstanding teacher.
The purpose of the conservation awards program is to recognize and honor a soil and water conservation district and people who have dedicated their efforts and talents to making wise use of renewable natural resources.
Sponsors of the area conservation awards program are the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the 216 local soil and water conservation districts in Texas.