NOLS Awards Louisa Willcox Alumni Achievement Award

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - August 14, 1998--On August 14, 1998, at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, the National Outdoor Leadership School awarded it's Alumni Achievement Award to Louisa Willcox. The award honors an alumnus who has made lasting and positive impacts in outdoor recreation or conservation.

Willcox attended a three week NOLS winter course in 1972. In 1974 she participated in the very selective NOLS instructors course and then worked for the school for nine years.

In 1985 Willcox became the first program director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and helped coin the phrase "Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem". Willcox contributed to the public's increasing understanding of the importance of ecosystems rather than political boundaries when making environmental policy decisions.

Willcox serves on the board of the Wildlands Project, Wildland CPR, Wildlife Tracks and the Yellowstone to Yukon Project. She is currently the coordinator of the Sierra Club Grizzly Bear Ecosystem Project.

During acceptance of the award Willcox thanked NOLS for introducing her to the wilderness that she now works to protect. Willcox urged the audience to educate themselves concerning the many environmental challenges which face our remaining wildlands, and to be active in their protection.

Press Contact:
Bruce Palmer
National Outdoor Leadership School
(307) 332-1230
email:bruce_palmer@nols.edu