Introducing the Winners of the 2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2019 Explore Ecology Environmental Stewardship Awards. We received a lot of inspiring nominations this year and are excited about the many teachers, students, clubs, and school support staff who are doing important environmental work in Santa Barbara County. The 2019 winners promote environmental stewardship through education and action and have made a huge difference in their schools, classrooms, and community.
The winners of the 2019 Explore Ecology Environmental Stewardship Awards are:
Sawyer Smythe: Student K to 6th Grade
Brynn Rotbart: Student 7th to 12th Grade
Kellogg School Ocean Guardians Ambassadors: Class or Club Award
Ellen Hunter: Teacher K to 6th Grade
Victoria Ortiz: Teacher 7 to 12th Grade
Steve Vizzolini: School Support Staff
(Sawyer Smythe)
(Brynn Rotbart)
Brynn Rotbart is passionate about environmental protection and animal justice. Brynn was active in the Proposition 12 Prevent Animal Cruelty campaign and has volunteered with animal and nature focused non-profit organizations, including walking dogs and socializing cats at the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, assisting at spay-neuter clinics with Care4Paws, interning at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Network, and volunteering at a primate reserve in Costa Rica which rehabilitates and cares for primates injured after contact with electric lines. Brynn is also part of the Santa Ynez Valley High School Student (SYVH) Senate where she worked to enhance student awareness on proper recycling methods and increased the number of recycling bins available on campus. President of the SYVHS Outdoor Recreation Club for 2 years, Brynn encourages her friends to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature by organizing hikes, coordinating beach and surfing outings, and climbing to the top of an isolated hill where there is minimal light pollution to appreciate the beauty of the night sky.
(Ellen Hunter)
Ellen Hunter is a Kindergarten teacher at Monroe Elementary. Ellen is a passionate environmental steward who works every day to instill these values in her students. Ellen believes that environmental education begins with an appreciation for all living things- animals, insects, plants, water systems, and an understanding of their interconnectedness. She does this by taking her students on hikes and utilizing the many environmental field trips and programs within the community. This year, Ellen has begun teaching her kindergartners how to lessen their carbon footprint by reducing food waste, water and energy conservation, buying less at the store and buying in bulk, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, riding a bike or walking instead of a car, and bringing reusable bags to the market. Ellen is dedicated to making her school and the entire district more sustainable. She attended Board of Education meetings to recommend that the district pass a climate resolution, which they did- joining dozens of other districts across the country and earning the praise of the community. Ellen attended the Climate Reality training under Al Gore in August 2018 and is very motivated to create awareness around climate change. Ellen is working to bring more sustainable practices to all of Monroe Elementary and is working with the City of Santa Barbara to implement a “Green Team” at her school consisting of staff, students, and parents who are motivated to help reduce waste at school. Ellen is also on the District Sustainability Committee.
(Kellogg School Ocean Guardian Ambassadors)
The Kellogg School Ocean Guardian Ambassadors (OGA’s) work on projects that reduce plastic and other waste at Kellogg School. The OGA’s have cleaned trash from their school campus and local beaches and educated about the harmful effects of plastic, Styrofoam, and other trash on our ocean ecosystems. The club conducted a school lunch Waste Audit and started Kellogg’s first Zero Waste Lunch Day. Their new initiative is Zero Waste Wednesdays- where students strive to have waste-free lunches. The Ocean Guardian Ambassadors have coordinated campus litter clean-ups and educated their school about watersheds and how trash from land can end up in our creeks and oceans. They will visit local restaurants this spring to promote Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants program. After several OGA club members spoke at a PTA meeting in November, the PTA committed to stop using plastic water bottles at PTA events, and is now looking into ways to fund reusable “party kits” for all Kellogg classrooms.
(Steve Vizzolini)
The winner in our new category of School Support Staff is Steve Vizzolini, the Director of Facilities and Modernization for the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD). Steve’s dedication and work is impacting the lives of students throughout the district on issues of the environment and energy sustainability. Steve led the way on a 5-year project that was completed in 2018 and included a comprehensive energy benchmarking analysis of all Santa Barbara Unified School District campuses and recommendations to implement and replace lighting and equipment with energy efficient LED technology. This contributed to savings of 2 million kWh, $190,000, and 1,000 tons of Co2 -equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 532 acres of United States forest in one year. Under Steve’s leadership, modernization efforts include coordinating with the SBUSD Board of Education to commit to adding solar to all new facility construction projects and installing its first public electric vehicle charging station in the downtown Santa Barbara district office.
(Victoria Ortiz)
Victoria Ortiz of Santa Barbara Middle School (SBMS) shares her passion for environmental stewardship and protecting natural resources with students. Victoria is a trip leader for her school’s outdoor expeditions, where she educates about ecosystems, resources, and the environment. She inspires students to be vocal in protecting public lands and the species who live there. Victoria developed a weekly tradition at SBMS, termed the “Sustainability Tip of the Week.” Topics have included micro plastics in the ocean, light pollution, and the importance of turning off lights to conserve energy and support species that rely on night skies. This weekly tradition has empowered students to take initiative on issues that impact the environment.
This year, the Explore Ecology Awards were created by students at Franklin Elementary and their teacher Brendan Carroll. Using a laser cutter and their artistic talent, the students turned found beach rocks into one of a kind, upcycled awards.
The public is invited to meet the Environmental Stewardship Award winners at a ceremony at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival on April 27th at 1:00 pm at on the stage in the Kids Corner. Winners will be honored and give acceptance speeches on the Kids Stage and at 2:30 will join CEC’s Environmental Heroes on the Main Stage for further recognition. Please join us to cheer on these dedicated eco-stewards!
Special thanks to Edison for their generous support for the awards.
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Phillip is a recent Westmont College graduate and a proud member of the inaugural class of Environmental Studies students from Westmont. Phillip is excited to be on the Explore Ecology teaching team because he loves to inspire others about nature as his mentors have done for him. 
Ellie Cotter is a recent graduate of UCSB who studied Environmental Studies with a minor in Philosophy. Ellie learned the importance of community based action, spending her years interning and volunteering for local groups, such as Coal Oil Point Reserve and North Campus Open Space. 
Joey is grateful to have grown up with an abundance of nature around him and is happiest in the water or in the sun. From a young age, Joey felt a responsibility to take care of the Earth in return for all the ways she has taken care of him. This led Joey to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies at UCSB where he furthered his knowledge of how different human societies have conceptualized and interacted with the natural world throughout history.
Rachel Palmer
Alyssa grew up on Long Island, New York and spent a lot of her childhood and early adulthood exploring the mountains, meadows, and beaches throughout the East Coast. These formative experiences in nature, along with impactful mentors and coursework in undergraduate and graduate school, inspired her to pursue a career connecting youth with the natural world. From the deciduous forests of New England to the shores of the Big Island of Hawaii, Alyssa has spent over 10 years working with youth of all ages on urban and rural farms, in school gardens, and in beautiful, wild places. Alyssa is passionate about facilitating meaningful experiences for youth that deepen their connections to self, community, and the land and she believes that school gardens are the perfect place to do this. 
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
I love coming to work and getting pets from everyone.
Ian Docktor
Emma Serr is an artist and student studying Studio Art at SBCC.
Lydia
Iliana Jacobo is a Garden Educator at three different school sites. Iliana has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Sustainability and Social Justice and a minor in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.
Lindsay Johnson
MELISSA BROOKS
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.
Luz developed a strong sense of devotion for working with diverse populations after studying Sociology at UCSB. Her background in social work includes case management for various non-profits, experience with trauma informed care, and developing/teaching curriculum for school garden education & art resiliency. 
Sarah is very passionate about being involved in the outdoors, as well as expressing creativity. She grew up in the Bay Area learning to garden with her mother and going hiking, camping, and backpacking with her family regularly. While gardening with her mother, she grew a deep connection with the processes of ecosystems and food production, so Sarah believes it can be incredibly beneficial for kids to get hands-on experience in nature. 
Sadie
Clare
Chloe grew up in nearby Ojai, CA, which helped shape her passion for living a green lifestyle and conserving wildlife. 
Aimee moved to Santa Barbara from Asheville, North Carolina. She grew up visiting her Grandma in Ojai and wanted to take the opportunity to be closer to her. By lucky accident, she has also found that she is in love with beautiful Santa Barbara! Aimee’s background prior to her Garden Educator position was in Animal Agriculture and she had a layman’s interest in keeping a garden. The Central Coast is a completely different ball game as far as growing produce and she has greatly enjoyed the challenge, as well as taking every opportunity to grow and learn with her students. She loves giving students opportunities to grow lots of food that is delicious right off the plant, as well as learning about the entire ecosystem of their school gardens. She hopes her teaching feels student-led and informed. 
Angie was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She studied Psychology at San Diego State and was a social worker in San Francisco for five years before she discovered her love of growing food. Angie learned how to grow vegetables with the Green Urban Lunch Box in Salt Lake City and then moved back to the Bay Area to start farming. 
