Helen Domske, NYSG’s Coastal Education Specialist and the Associate Director of University at Buffalo’s Great Lakes Program, was recently named “Public Servant of the Year” by the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (ECFSC).

Domske has worked first with retired Assemblyman Dick Smith and current Assemblyman Jack Quinn for many years to coordinate the State of the Lake Erie meetings, bringing in many quality speakers to help her ECFSC stakeholders and other Lake Erie anglers keep up with current events.

“The ‘State of the Lake’ is one of the most important programs in the state concerning the continued well being of Lake Erie,” says Assemblyman Quinn. “Each year, it brings a variety of stakeholders, from anglers to biologists, under one roof for up-to-date reports on ecological information, current initiatives, and future plans. This event [held in early May] could never have been or continue to be such a great success without the commitment and effort of NYSG and Helen Domske.”

Also in May, Domske (pictured far left) received the inaugural Douglas B. Seager Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science Education. Named after Seager, a dedicated science teacher and mentor for teachers, the award comes from science educators and those involved with science education professional development from Rochester to Buffalo.

—Paul C. Focazio