Illinois' top environmental educator has ties to Cape area

Sarah Livesay, environmental education coordinator for the Champaign County Forest Preserve District in Illinois, has been named Environmental Educator of the Year.

She received the award from the Environmental Education Association of Illinois "for innovative and exemplary efforts in providing environment education opportunities for youth and educators."

She has a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Illinois University at Charleston, Ill., where she also received the Eastern Illinois University Hunt Environmental Biology Award.

Livesay has worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where she has served as an interpreter at Fox Ridge State Park and at the Center for Aquatic Ecology in Sullivan, Ill.

She has spent time improving the ecological literacy in adults and children and has yearly taught environmental education programs to thousands of students.

Livesay is the daughter of Ron and Sue LeGrand of Mattoon, Ill., and the granddaughter of Bob and Mattie Clippard of Jackson, Mo. She is also the granddaughter of Ben W. and the late Lucille LeGrand of Cape Girardeau.

Livesay and her husband, Jeff, live in St. Joseph, Ill.