Environmental Leader Mary Priestley
Selected as Recipient of the Harry Yeatman
Environmental Education Award

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School is pleased to announce that Mary Patten Priestley, one of the area’s leading environmental activist-volunteers and curator of the Sewanee Herbarium, will receive the 2010 Yeatman Award for Environmental Education. Priestley will be honored on April 17 during Wine & Wildflowers, an event held at the Monteagle Inn.

The Yeatman award is named for noted environmental educator Dr. Harry Yeatman, Professor Emeritus of Biology of the University of the South. According to Dr. Yeatman, "For years Mary has shared her vast knowledge and love of plants with people through trips, hikes, botanical meetings, discussions, publications and workshops. She has also spearheaded fund raising events, served on committees, and quietly prodded us to actions that have saved thousands of acres, raised valuable dollars, and inspired an entire generation of native plant lovers." Dr. George Ramseur, Sewanee emeritus Professor of Biology and founding Director of the Sewanee Herbarium, described Mary as "one of my best botany students" and praised "her multifaceted career as a gifted naturalist, writer, artist, and musician who uses her talents to promote environmental awareness and good practice in Sewanee and beyond." Jon Evans, Director of Sewanee’s Environmental Institute, noted that Mary "embraced the volunteer role of Curator for the Sewanee Herbarium with gusto! She has worked tirelessly over the years to help transform the Herbarium into a major center for plant biodiversity education and outreach on the Cumberland Plateau. Mary serves as editor of the Sewanee Plant Press; the Sewanee Herbarium newsletter; organizes hikes and other activities; works with students; represents the Herbarium on state committees; leads workshops; tirelessly collects plants for the Flora of the Domain project … the list goes on and on. The central theme in all of this is her true love of botany. Her enthusiasm is an inspiration. She gives true meaning to why we are the Volunteer State!"

Priestley serves as an adjunct instructor of Environmental Science at Chattanooga State Technical Community College and for the Regents Online Degree Program. Her major volunteer roles, in addition to her work with the Herbarium, include serving as president of the Tennessee Native Plant Society (TNPS) since 2007, as director and president-elect of the Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, as a charter member of the Dead Plants Society, and hike leader for the TNPS and for the Gatlinburg Wildflower Pilgrimage. She cochaired the Friends of SCSRA "Saving Great Spaces" campaign which raised $600,000 for acquisition of land surrounding Savage Gulf and Fiery Gizzard and led to two $2 million dollar grants from the State of Tennessee and the federal government, bringing the total raised to $4.6 million. An accomplished author and illustrator, she served as technical editor for TNPS’s official field guide: Wildflowers of Tennessee, The Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians. She produced the Wildflowers of Sewanee poster, and co-authored Go Take a Hike: a Guide to Hiking on the Domain of the University of the South. She is the accordionist and leader of Bazzania, "the Official All-Girls Band of the Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area" and has served on the steering committee of Trails & Trilliums since its inception. Priestley graduated with a B.S. in Forestry from The University of the South and received an M.S. in Biology at Middle Tennessee State University. She and husband William (Mac) Priestley are parents of William, Thomas, and Patten, all graduates of SAS.

Trails & Trilliums Service Award Goes to
South Cumberland State Recreation Area

The recipient of this year’s Trails & Trilliums Service Award is South Cumberland State Recreation Area, recognizing the work of the SCSRA staff in educating, protecting and providing access to the vast scenic areas of the park. Park Manager John Christof, the four Park Rangers and members of the staff of the SCSRA will be honored on April 17 during Wine & Wildflowers, an event held at the Monteagle Inn.

The South Cumberland State Recreation Area, which totals 21,649 acres, is responsible for ten separate areas in four counties: Franklin, Marion, Grundy, and Sequatchie. These areas include Buggy Top Cave, Sewanee Natural Bridge, Fiery Gizzard, Foster Falls, Savage Gulf, Stone Door, Greeter Falls, Meadow Trail and Grundy Lakes. Last year the SCSRA had 792,441 visitors with 5,109 people attending special programs.