Published: March 24, 2008 11:23 am         

Teacher tops in conservation

jesse.davis@goshennews.com — Bethany Christian High School biology teacher Amy Thut has been awarded the Conservation Teacher of the Year award by the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District.

“I felt grateful for the recognition,” Thut, who has been teaching at the school since fall of 2005, said. “I just feel lucky to be in a job where my passions for educating kids and the environment are united.”

Originally from Goshen, Thut graduated from Bethany Christian High School in 1995 before earning a degree in biology from Goshen College. She also has a graduate degree in environmental education from Antioch New England Graduate School.

While living in Pennsylvania, Thut worked on land use planning issues for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, eventually moving back to Goshen in 2004.

“Every year we request nominations (for the award),” ECSWCD Program Manager Nancy Brown said. “We work with Amy quite frequently and help her with programs. We knew how good she was from working with her.”

The ECSWCD has been giving the yearly award since 1984. Until several years ago, there was a state and national award as well. Thut’s predecessor, Marisa Yoder, is the only local to have ever won at the national level. The local award is presented as a plaque at their annual meeting.

“I feel really lucky to have come to a place that’s already so hands-on. Bethany continues to be supportive of it,” Thut said.

In Thut’s biology class, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of projects and exercises that provide real-life examples of what otherwise would come only from the pages of their textbooks.

Next week, the class will travel to Rich and Brenda Meyer’s farm in Benton to look at wind power and solar panels, as well as hearing from Evan Bontrager of Lucid Technologies, who is scheduled to come in and speak.

County Commissioner Mike Yoder once came in to lead students in a simulation of a situation where they had to decide whether to alter the use of a piece of land in Bristol from agricultural to industrial.

Students are also able to participate in Merry Lea’s Enchanted Forest, Adopt-A-Road cleanup, river cleanup, landfill visits and Bethany’s “bike to school” day.

Thut herself is involved with the ECSWCD, the Elkhart River Alliance and the Mennonite Creation Care Council.