Lois Gibbs Presents First Annual
Lipscomb Science Fair Award

     Natalie Demarko, a 9th grader at Brunswick High School, became the first winner of the GEC’s Dr. William T. Lipscomb Science Fair Award at the 22nd Coastal Georgia Regional Science and Engineering Fair awards ceremony, sponsored by Coastal Georgia Community College (CGCC) on Feb. 25th.  Natalie’s name was placed on the award trophy, and she received a $100 check, a framed certificate, and a student membership in the GEC.  Natalie’s award winning project was, “Testing the Effects of Fertilization on Oak Grove Island Golf Course Pond Water Quality .” 
 

The GEC was fortunate to have long-time environmental activist Lois Gibbs, who became famous in the late 1970's for her fight to rescue her Love Canal, NY, neighborhood from toxic contamination and who was in town to lead our Environmental Leadership Conference, present our first-ever Dr. William T. Lipscomb Science Fair Award    Dr. Lipscomb taught biology and physiology for 18 years at the College.  "On behalf of those who were fortunate enough to know Bill as a colleague and a friend," says Professor Patricia Rugaber of CGCC, "we would like others to know that Dr. Lipscomb was a teacher and mentor to a generation of students who went on to excel in nursing and other health care professions.  He was greatly loved by his students and is greatly missed by his colleagues here at CGCC."

   At the time of his death in February of 2005, Bill Lipscomb had retired from teaching but was serving as Secretary for the Glynn Environmental Coalition.  In his honor, the GEC has established the Dr. William T. Lipscomb Science Fair Award, to be given each year "to the student whose science fair project best epitomizes concern and hope for a clean environment and healthy economy for coastal Georgia."

   This year's judges who determined the winner of the Lipscomb Award were Dr. Eugene Keferl, also a retired  CGCC science teacher and GEC member, and Joel Myers and Stephen Ryner of the GEC Board of Directors.  Mr. Ryner currently serves as GEC Secretary, filling the position vacated by Bill's death last year.

Nalalie Demarko (center) received the first William T. Lipscomb Science Fair Award from Lois Gibbs (right) from the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.  Bill Owens (left) introduced Ms. Gibbs at the award ceremony.  Photo by Daniel Parshley

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