E. Benjamin Nelson Government Service Award
Award Background
The E. Benjamin Nelson Government Service Award, named after two-term Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson, was established in 1998 to recognize and honor an elected or appointed public official who has significantly advanced environmental and groundwater stewardship. This award is named in honor of Governor Nelson in recognition of his tremendous service to groundwater during his eight years as Nebraska’s Governor. Among his many accomplishments, Governor Nelson:
- Demonstrated international leadership on behalf of, and participated in, eight consecutive Groundwater Festivals
- Established the Nebraska Environmental Trust which annually provides nearly ten million dollars for environmental projects throughout the state
- Led multi-state discussions which led directly to a tri-state agreement to effectively manage the Platte River Basin
Goals of the E. Benjamin Nelson Government Service Award
- Recognize and honor an elected or appointed public official who has significantly advanced environmental and groundwater stewardship
- Inspire similar service in others
- Spread the word about the value of groundwater as a natural resource
- Demonstrate the effectiveness of political leadership and public policies in protecting groundwater
Selection Criteria
The award winner will have:
- Achieved substantive accomplishments that include the initiation and implementation of public policies and/or programs benefiting groundwater
- Inspired leadership and involvement in environmental issues by public officials
- Had regular communication with constituents about environmental issues
- Demonstrated personal commitment and a dedicated focus on water stewardship issues
Areas of achievement may include:
- Public policy formation
- Educational initiatives
- Increasing collaboration between governmental entities
- Increasing communication with, and involvement by, constituents
- Establishment of local, state, and national programs that conserve and protect groundwater
Eligibility
Any government official on the local, state, or federal level; elected, appointed, or career civil service is eligible to receive the award. Individuals honored through this award will have substantively advanced the cause of groundwater protection through their leadership efforts.
