MLCI. Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute Receives Environmental Protection Agency's "2002 Environmental Merit Award".

Nobleboro, Maine - (April 8, 2003) The New England Office of the Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute (MLCI) the Environmental Merit Award, in recognition of MLCI's exceptional work and commitment to the environment in 2002.

The Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute will receive their award at a special Earth Day ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston on Tuesday, April 22. This annual award recognizes, "�outstanding environmental advocates who have made a significant contribution toward preserving and protecting our natural resources," according to Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator of the EPA.

"This award has stunned us and we are all very humbled by this recognition," said Executive Director Shippen Bright. "We are thrilled to be able to share this award with our program participants, members, and funders as an endorsement of their support of our mission. All of us have worked hard to bring the best educational and dynamic programs to our students and it's paying off."

The Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute is a nonprofit environmental education organization that is committed to understanding, preserving and sustaining the health and values of Maine's lakes. Through hands-on education on board their mobile floating classroom, the Melinda Ann, and through their innovative Internet based distanced learning initiative, the "Students Portal", MLCI works with children and adults around the state of Maine.

"MLCI is receiving recognition for the programs we have designed to make a real difference here in Maine," remarked Dr. Mary Ann McGarry, Director of Education for MLCI. "Our educational programs are unique and transformative and the links with the University of Maine and the PEARL Web sites lend a solid lake research perspective to what we are doing." Dr. McGarry added that MLCI's goal is to bring more schools on board with MLCI and this recognition will help us create more opportunities to do so. An MLCI research division is planned in conjunction with a future lake front campus.