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Frederick County Sustainability Awards
The annual Frederick County Sustainability Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to help our community make progress toward climate and environmental justice goals. Awards are based on demonstrated leadership, innovation, and success in sustainability efforts.
Awards are given in the following categories: Individuals, Students/Student Groups, Nonprofits, Small Commercial Enterprises (less than 50 employees), and Large Commercial Enterprises (greater than 50 employees). Actions can include things such as:
- Energy efficiency programs.
- Renewable energy projects.
- Work to enhance soil, air or water quality.
- Actions to reduce waste, compost, and/or recycle.
- Reforestation, ecological landscape management, or habitat restoration.
- Raising environmental awareness and promoting equitable engagement in our community.
- Striving to address environmental justice issues.
- And more!
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Tree Trekkers – Category: Commercial Enterprise- 50 or Fewer Employees. This local business has preserved thirty acres of forest in a rapidly developing area of the county, offering an outdoor recreation experience that gets people “off the screen and into the green”. Through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and pollinator gardens, Tree Trekkers is fostering environmental stewardship, clean air, and sustainable lifestyles for future generations.
Frederick County Department of Social Services Green Team – Category: Commercial Enterprise- Over 50 Employees. Staff from this social services agency actively support environmental education and action through community cleanup events, native gardens, tree plantings, and recycling initiatives. They also form local partnerships to lead collaborative events and eco-educational presentations.
Frederick County Master Gardeners – Category: Nonprofit Organization. This group of dedicated volunteers educates people on sustainable “Bay-Wise” landscaping practices that protect local ecosystems and watersheds. Through their demonstration garden and extensive public outreach on composting, native plants, and low-impact gardening principles, they empower individuals to create healthier, more resilient environments right at home.
Wild Sprouts Inc – Category: Nonprofit Organization. A nature-based nonprofit that fosters environmental stewardship through outdoor early childhood education rooted in sustainability, conservation, and hands-on learning. From waste-free practices and native ecosystem lessons, to green administrative operations and community partnerships, Wild Sprouts models what it means to live and teach sustainability every day.
VT Seva Maryland – Category: Student Group. Empowering youth to lead sustainability efforts through upcycling events, battery recycling drives, native plantings, and community education programs across Frederick County. VT Seva Maryland fosters a culture of conscious living and combines environmental action with public awareness, STEAM education, and civic engagement. Students are empowered to take individual action and make a collective impact.
Sarah Frost – Category: Individual. A leader of the Brunswick Green Team, she helped attain Sustainable Maryland certification for the City of Brunswick, bringing sustainability to the forefront of local planning and development. Through plant restoration, invasive species removal, and many collaborative projects, her leadership has left a lasting mark on the city’s environmental future.
Lauren Paulet-Miller – Category: Individual. A transformative leader of environmental efforts across the City of Frederick, from launching a composting program to securing Maryland’s first Bird City designation, Lauren champions sustainable practices through grassroots education. Her work seamlessly blends advocacy, accessibility, and daily action—making Frederick a model for community-driven climate resilience, wildlife protection, and waste reduction.
Deborah Portney – Category: Individual. A dedicated environmental advocate who has empowered the Frederick community to restore native habitats through education, hands-on volunteerism, and the founding of the Wildlife Habitat Advisory Program. Through invasive species removal, native planting, free seed swaps, and collaborative site visits, Deb’s work builds critical habitat corridors that support birds, pollinators, and wildlife across the region.
Commercial Enterprise With 50 or Fewer Employees:
Everlee Acres Farm
A heritage breed farm in Sabillasville, Maryland, established in 2022 that utilizes the natural instinct of heritage breeds and field rotation to restore the natural ecosystem of the wooded area.
Commercial Enterprise With Greater Than 50 Employees:
The Common Market Co-op
This local co-op is dedicated to sustainability by sourcing local, organic food, supporting regional farmers, and fostering community health through accessible and equitable food distribution.
Industrial:
Lonza Biosciences, Walkersville Location
The largest manufacturing site for Lonza Bioscience, their Walkersville site has committed to reducing its environmental impacts and has executed several sustainability projects and activities.
Nonprofit:
Mountainside Environmental Education Center
A nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental advocacy and education. Created the “Lunch Out of Landfills” waste reduction programs, now implemented in multiple Frederick County Public Schools.
Individuals:
Brian Brotherton
This science teacher at Catoctin High School serves as the Chair of the Conservation Club. He spearheaded sustainability initiatives that led to Catoctin High school becoming a certified Maryland Green School.
Michelle Carpenter
This teacher at Myersville Elementary School guides their Environmental Club and has initiated several sustainability programs that helped them become certified in the Maryland Green Schools program.
Evan Hull
This science teacher at Windsor Knolls Middle School ais the Chair of the Windsor Knolls Green Team. He led various sustainability efforts that contributed to attaining Maryland Green School certification.
Student Group:
Catoctin High School Conservation Club
A group of students who support the environment and volunteer in activities year-round, focusing on solid waste reduction, tree planting, environmental advocacy, and community education about sustainable lifestyle practices.
Individual Student:
Gina Lin
In her senior year at Catoctin High School, she was passionate about helping save our planet and volunteered much time and energy to lead the school’s efforts to become a certified Maryland Green School.
Pictured, from left to right: three student members of the Catoctin High School Environmental Club, Michelle Carpenter (Myersville Elementary School), Amanda Harmon (The Common Market), Brad Crim (Everlee Acres Farm), County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Evan Hull (Windsor Knolls Middle School), Joe Richmond (Mountainside Education and Enrichment Center), Brian Brotherton (Catoctin High School), and Thomas Graf (Lonza Biosciences).
Kite, A Gilead Company, Frederick T-Cell Factory 5 (Category: Industrial Enterprise) Committed to making transformative cell therapies the right way by continually improving the environmental impact of their activities, preventing pollution, and prioritizing the conservation of resources. Created a Kite Sustainability Network and Local Sustainability Green & Energy Teams, to build a green culture and to advocate for healthy, responsible practices.
Black Ankle Vineyards (Category: Commercial Enterprise, 50 or More Employees) From building construction to production methods, their focus is on making wise use of their farmland's resources. Efforts include construction methods that incorporate repurposed materials, straw bales, and green roofing, installation of solar panels that generate all the operation’s electricity, and using a biodiesel tractor.
House In the Woods Farm (Category: Commercial Enterprise, 50 or Fewer Employees) A certified organic farm, the operation grows diverse crops featuring heritage breeds, drip irrigation, and field rotation methods that contribute to the resilience and sustainability of their Community Supported Agriculture program. The farm also provides opportunities for experiential environmental education programs.
Mobilize Frederick (Category: Nonprofit Organization) Seeks to advance economic vitality, equity, and human health by promoting innovative and effective local solutions to the growing climate emergency. Their efforts to partner with local government, nonprofits, and the community support the goals established in the County and the City of Frederick's Climate Emergency Resolutions.
Carey Murphy (Category: Individual Venture) A Master Naturalist and co-founder of Green Team Urbana, a volunteer group committed to increasing biodiversity and restoring the ecological health of heavily developed areas. Carey leads numerous efforts to foster community engagement in environmental issues and is working to develop and support green schools.
Kerri Hesley (Category: Individual Venture) Serves as the lead of the Sierra Club Catoctin Group's Zero Waste Team. Her tireless efforts to educate the community on the hazards of single-use plastics contributed to the City of Frederick enacting legislation to ban businesses from providing plastic bags (effective January 1, 2024).
Pragna Yalamanchili (Category: Student Venture) Volunteers many hours to help manage the recycling and composting program at Oakdale High School and provides educational presentations for students and staff on the topic of waste reduction. Has communicated with county and state officials to expand these efforts to other schools.
Urbana STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Mindfulness) (Category: Student Venture) Niranjana Attoor, Aarna Chakarvarty, Rakshita Jayaswal, Mihir Kumar, Aahana Nigam, and Rhea Ramesh are a group of students who support the environment by volunteering year-round to support activities such as tree planting, used battery recycling, litter clean-ups, and community gardening. They donate the organic food grown to those in need. The group also helps promote these efforts to encourage awareness and participation of others.
