Excellence in Botany Award
About the Award
The award is given to an individual who has made an important contribution to Botany in the state of Kansas in the form of research or education.
Nomination
Past Winners
2011 - Gordon & Martha Barnhart of Bucklin, KS
Gordon and Martha Barnhart own 3 large high quality prairie tracks in Leavenworth County, KS. Gordon has generously provided access for researchers with the Kansas Biological Survey and Kansas Native Plant Society to these prairies. Gordon is actively managing these prairies to further increase their quality. This is a significant contribution to botany as large tracts of prairie are very scarce in northeast Kansas.
Gordon & Martha were not present at the annual meeting to receive their award.
2010 - Iralee Barnard of Hope, KS
Iralee worked with the public at the K-State Herbarium for many years and currently works as a seasonal botanist for the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Strong City. She also authored The Pocket Guide to Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses.
Craig Freeman, Iralee Barnard, Valerie Wright
2008 - Howard Reynolds of Hays, KS
Howard taught at Fort Hays State University for 25 years, helped build the University herbarium and continues to help with plant identifications after his retirement. His colleagues say they can always count on him to get it right. Howard has taught innumerable students during his career.
Michael Heffron, Howard Reynolds, Valerie Wright
2007 - Dwight Platt of Newton, KS
Dwight received this award for his teaching and mentoring of many students at Bethel College over the years, as well as his promotion of native plants in gardens and landscapes. At Kaurffman Museum 25 years ago, he initiated and still maintains a reconstructed tallgrass prairie for studetns and visitors to see the beauty of native plants.
Shirley Braunlich, Brad Guhr, Dwight Platt, Valerie Wright
2006 - Anita Smith of Fredonia, KS
2004 - Harold Kline of Medicine Lodge, KS
Harold was honored for his commitment to education through the annual Barber County Wildflower Tour, which he has conducted for many years.
