BY PAUL HOFF

Katherine “Katie” Ledermann is the 2013 recipient of the Mahtomedi Area Green Initiative Environmental Leadership Award, presented at the Mahtomedi High School awards ceremony Wednesday, May 15.

The award provides a $1,000 merit-based scholarship to a graduating senior who exemplifies commitment, innovation, and leadership in addressing environmental issues. Scholarship founders Vicki and Si Ford and their family were inspired by Mahtomedi students whose vision, dedication, and leadership were pivotal in making the Zephyr Wind Turbine a reality. Many other community members have added their support to a scholarship celebrating this past student initiative and aims to encourage future student engagement, innovation and post-secondary study in defining and solving environmental problems.

Katie is a co-founder and co-chair of the award-winning Eco Club at MHS, which led student support for the Zephyr Wind Turbine, including selling T-shirts, working concessions at events, and talking up the project with their peers.

She organized a solar energy workshop in town last spring which drew almost 50 people, worked for the Minnesota Youth Conservation Corps over the summer, and in the fall worked with the Eco Club and school officials to establish composting at the high school.

Katie is a humble and effective leader with vision and and a strong work ethic.  She plans to pursue environmental science and environmental studies at the University of Minnesota Morris.  Congratulations and thanks Katie, to you and all the students working to make Mahtomedi and the world a better place!

Editor’s note: Would you like to help encourage future young environmental leaders? Donations are needed to help ensure that the MAGI Environmental Leadership Award can continue in future years. Make your tax-deductible contribution now!