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In recognition of their exceptional work to enhance public appreciation of our public lands, two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employees were honored with the BLM's "Excellence in Interpretation or Education" Awards.The awards are given annually to outstanding BLM interpreters and educators who conduct programs that enhance public appreciation and understanding of the natural and cultural riches within America's public lands, as well as management issues in the context of the BLM's multiple-use mission. This year's winners were presented with the awards at the National Association for Interpretation's 2014 National Workshop in Denver, Colo."The Excellence Awards program, now in its nineteenth year, underscores the BLM's commitment to the concept of shared stewardship,"said BLM Colorado State Director Ruth Welch, who presented the awards. "Strong education, interpretation, and youth programs are essential to our efforts to engage citizens in the work we do on behalf of the American people. These programs help foster meaningful connections between people and their public lands," she added.The BLM's 2014 "Excellence in Interpretation or Education" Award winners are:GOLD AWARD: Roy Simpson, Education Specialist, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Oregon, for developing creative, standards-linked youth education programs and teacher workshops, and for his work on the Oregon Coast Aquatic and Marine Science Partnership Ocean Literacy Project.SILVER AWARD: Kierson Crume, Archaeologist, Cody Field Office, Wyoming, for developing the "“Take it Outside! Living Landscapes" project, a hands-on, experiential learning program that helps students discover relationships between ecosystem structure and past and present human activities.The winners were selected from an outstanding group of nominees, who were evaluated on the creativity of their work and how it* enhances the public's awareness of public land resources and their relationship to people; * provides the public with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, commitment, and skills needed to protect and improve public and private lands;* helps the BLM accomplish management goals and objectives;* involves partners; and* is accessible and sensitive to diverse audiences.The BLM awards were part of a wider presentation of awards by various agencies at the workshop, including the Hiram M. Chittenden Award (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Sense of Wonder Award (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), Gifford Pinchot Excellence in Interpretation and Conservation Education Award (U.S. Forest Service), and Freeman Tilden Award (National Park Service).