Obama Honors SCA Founder

Your vision for the SCA is timeless: young people, vital projects, connection to the land. This work will never go out of style. The transformation of humyn lives through service to the earth's resources will never be outdated. Your legacy will last for generations. Congratulations!

Thank you Liz for founding SCA. Congrats on this honor! You are an inspiration. Theresa Ramirez

We just finished smiling, cheering and crying along with you, as you accepted a very well-deserved honor at the White House. You and the other honorees deserved that and so much more. Liz, you make us proud to come to work every day here at SCA. Thank you.
Frances

Liz, My young daughter told me the other night that she is happy I work for SCA, and when she is old enough she wants to do the different programs we offer, and one day work here in Charlestown. I have to say I was very proud to hear this, I am thrilled to have a job that I can say I love, because it fits with my personal belief that this land is a gift we are to treasure and nuture. You deserve this award and much more for the work you have done, the inspiration you give, and the joy you have for service that spills over to so many of us. Thank you for all that you give, and all you do.

The organization you created transformed my daughter's life and led her to a career managing conservation land. Because of this when I had the opportunity to work for the SCA I jumped at it. Thank you for all you have made possible.

Thank you Liz for forging the way! It's an honor to be a part of SCA.

It was inspiring to watch President Obama present you with the Citizens Award. I've been working as a temp for SCA since May and each day I am inspired by the work that our members do in the community and throughout the country. I've started being more deligent in my recycling efforts and I share SCA's mission with everyone I meet. Thank you for caring so much about our youth and our environment.

Wow Liz, what a well deserved honor. We all watched at SCA headquarters in Charlestown and shared your moment of recognition with pride. Congratulations! Annie

Liz,
I cannot think of anyone more deserving (or more humble) of this award. Congratulations and enjoy your time at the White House! We are all very proud of you, Sarah

Liz, you are an everyday inspiration to us all and i'm privileged to be part of your team and extended SCA family! Congratulations and BRAVO on this distinguished honor!

Liz,

What a tremendous and exceedingly well deserved honor President Obama has bestowed upon you this afternoon!

You are an inspiration!

Jane Herman (who worked for Scott Izzo in the early and mid 1990s)

Congratulations, Liz! This award is perfect for you. You really have made a difference in your community and communities all across the country. Thank you for all your hard work - starting 53 years ago and going strong today.

This is Fantastic!
You're a wonderful "Keeper of Mother Earth"
And have shared your passion so that others too can answer the call of Mother Earth.

Congratulations on this moment of recognition. Your vision and dedication amount to countless moments worthy of recognition, and I am grateful for all you inspire, model, and have made possible. Your affection and commitment to both people and the planet draws many too you, to the conservation ethic, and to a more sustainable future in your footsteps. Thank you for showing the way. From the Vermont frontier hillsides and meadows, to the nation, for the planet and for each soul along the way.

Congrats and THANK YOU!

Congratulations Liz! What an amazing honor and reflection of your life's work.

Liz, What an achievement! You have proven that hard work, dedication, and team spirit add up to limitless possibilities. You are an inspiration to us all!

Liz,
It is high time that you were recognized with this award. It's an excellent example of how an idea can become reality and that the reality can affect so many in such a positive way. Certainly my life and so many others would not be the same without what you created. Thank you and congratulations again. We look forward to seeing you back here in the near future.
Lew

Liz: You will always be an inspiration to me. I often tell the story of your college thesis turning into a 53 year organization. It still gives me goose bumps! Thank you for your passion, commitment to teamwork and most of all believing in young people! Here’s to celebrating YOU as a 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal recipient! With huge respect, Ashley Hansen

Congratulations Liz! What a grand and well deserved honor for someone who has devoted more than half a century to inspiring so many young people and supporters to "Do Something Grand" for our cherished land. It is a privilege to work with the amazing organization you created.

Congratulations for such an achievement Liz! I feel so proud to work for this organization that is your creation. My history with the SCA has really influenced who I am today.

Congratulations! It was such a pleasure and great honor to get to know you when you visited us in April for Earth Day. In addition to inspiring millions already, you inspired me -- my husband and I will visit Yellowstone next week for the first time ever. Can't wait to see it and I know that as I look around I will be thinking of you, and thanking you again and again for keeping our parks alive and well. I hope to be able to watch the live feed today as you accept your medal...much love to you, from me and everyone at Green Vale School. - Peggy Bell

Hello Liz! I had the pleasure of meeting you and Bruce in Wyoming on 5 July. You gave our group an amazing oration which has still stuck with me. Your life's work has certainly had an impact on my life and I am grateful for the organization which you created. Good luck!

-- Luke Cole

Hey there Liz,
Congratulations on the award! It is such a great honor to work for the SCA and to work for an organization that we are so proud and honored to say that the SCA's founding president is Elizabeth T. Putnam. Jessie K

Your work has truly touched my life and I feel blessed to work in such a caring, dedicated organization. Thank you for all you have done to inspire youth to take an active role in the preservation of the environment.

Congratulations!

Anna

As always, I feel so privileged to be your colleague.
You never cease to amaze!
Best wishes,
Marsha

I am so honored to work for SCA. Thank you for starting an organization with such passion for our natural world. You are such a brilliant, lovely, amazing, fantastic, genius of a woman. Thank you and Congratulations!

Congrats Liz! People like you make the world better day by day by offering countless opportunities to young people all across the United States. It is because of you that we all are learning to appreciate the wonderful world we live in. You are an AMAZING woman and will continue to do great things. Thank you for everything.
National Conservation Crew Member Summer 2010,
Rebecca Kuntz
-Age 17, Chicago, Illinois

Liz,

A truly appropriate honor for the commitment, work and contribution you have made to youth, the Earth and the future of conservation! Brava! You continue to be an inspiration and motivator for so many of us! Warmest, warmest regards,Nancy

This award is well deserved indeed! I am proud to be working with such a great organization. Your kind spirit and positive mind-set has been an inpiration to me for many years! In the big SCA tree of life, you are the heartwood! Congratulations!
Tanner Snell
SCA Hudson Valley

Thank you Liz, from an SCA alumnus who decided to do conservation work and 37 years later is still working to protect and enhance our national parks and public lands.

Liz,
I had the opportunity to thank you for all you've done in person at Earth Vision, but that was when I'd only served one SCA internship. I'm serving my second one now and cannot express my gratitude enough for what you've done for me and the thousands of other SCAs throughout the years. You truly are an inspiration and completely deserving of this honor. Way to go!

Liz, who would have guessed! I am thinking of you visiting our crew in Yellowstone's remote Heart Lake area during the first year of SCA's Greater Yellowstone Recovery Corps. I am reminded of both the inspiration you shared with those young SCAers and of your own passion from your own very first volunteer experience with SCA earlier that summer helping to restore the world's premier national park. This recognition from President Obama is richly deserved and Meg, Rory, Lily and I send along our hheartfelt congratulations and love!

It is an honor to work at SCA, and I thank you for starting this organization. I am inspired by all the young people who serve in SCA service, but I also hold close the image of a young woman in 1957 who would not let the National Parks close. To me, you are still that young woman as you carry the torch for us here at SCA headquarters, and you provide a guiding spirit within the work we all do.

Today, we at SCA, will be with you as you receive your honor, watching from the sidelines and cheering you-- and all the young people in the field, all the young people to come in the next wave of environmental stewards and our planet.

Thank you for all your years of committment, leadership and mentorship in conservation.

Diana

This one is about YOU, Liz; and MUCH deserved!! Thank you for allowing all of us at SCA an opportunity to follow in your footsteps!

With great admiration,
Cindy :)

Liz,

We in the SCA Pittsburgh office are honored to be working under your vision and leadership towards the environment and conservation.

Congratulations on such a distinguished award!

Congratulations to an extraordinary woman. You have touched the hearts of so many and your passion shines. This is your moment-(again!). Enjoy it. :)

Liz, this award is a wonderful testament to your lifelong commitment to teamwork and safeguarding the places that bring out the best in Americans. Thank you for inspiring me, my children and everyone who walks in your footsteps. Your legacy is mind-bogging! Warmly, Hugh M.

I'm so glad to have met you and continue to share your stories and passion for conservation to all. Thank you for being an inspiration and congratulations on this honor!

We are SO proud of you! You deserve every moment of glory this afternoon.

Dear Liz - although the White House only allowed a few guests to be with you for this tremendous honor, you know that there are hundreds of us (maybe thousands!) who are watching and cheering as President Obama presents the Medal to you. It has been such an honor to have worked with you and to be a friend over our 30+ years together. You given so much to so many; it's grand to see your service to young people, our country and SCA honored today! Best, best wishes - Valerie

Liz,
We are honored to be working under your vision and leadership towards conservation and the environment. The SCA Pittsburgh office would like to send our sincere congratulations on your exciting accomplishment.

Congratulations Liz! SCA truly touched and changed my life! I departed on my first SCA trip to Yellowstone NP the summer of 2000. I tell you, what a way to open a kids eyes to the beauty of our national parks. I was forever changed. That summer taught me so much about our natural world, history and importance of our national parks, and a lot about who I am and what I wanted to be. Thank you for all you have done to touch our lives, enhance our national parks and other public lands; you deserve this! ~Megan C.

You're belief in what young people could do when given guidance, tools and support has led to a nationwide epidemic of love for our National Parks and beyond. The legacy you have creacted will continue for a lifetime.

Liz,

You are in inspiration to so many and deserve to be recognized for all your great acheivements not only for yourself but for so many others.
I am proud to be a part of SCA which started out as just words on a page and with hard work and determination is what it is today.

Vicki Cota

We're so proud and honored! Knock 'em dead!

Liz
It is such an honor to know you and be part of such a great organization. You deserve this recognition and more. Thanks for all your great work.
Debi

Liz,
You continue to be the inspiration for so many of us here in Charlestown. This honor is well-deserved and I am very proud to play but a small part in this great organization founded by you.
Brava!

Congratulations, Liz! You have touched so many people who, in turn, have touched so many places across the American landscape. I will never forget the first time I met you -- I knew I was in the presence of a giant. Your passion for our natural world continues to inspire me, and your impact on the natural world is a legacy without rival. A deserved honor, indeed... Kevin H