Klotz receives 2023 Spirit of CANR Award

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station’s Misty Klotz to receive 2023 Spirit of CANR Award.

Misty Klotz

Misty Klotz, community outreach coordinator for the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, will receive the Spirit of CANR Award.

The Spirit of CANR Award recognizes a support staff member who is committed to representing CANR and MSU by embodying the CANR mission through one or more of its values.

Klotz is an environmental educator and project coordinator who specializes in collaborative public outreach at the Michigan State University’s W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. She has developed, implemented and evaluated outreach programs for a broad range of audiences from kindergartners to retirees on topics of agriculture, natural resources and volunteer management. Her passion is connecting people to place for the flourishing of both. Klotz earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from The Evergreen State College and an associate’s degree in forestry, wildlife, outdoor recreation from the Community Colleges of Spokane.

According to a nominator, “Misty’s one-on-one attention, supportive and inclusive nature has kept the KBS Volunteer program strong, especially throughout the COVID pandemic. Misty is the first to welcome someone to the table whose voice may have been missing.”

Additional nominators said, “No matter how difficult co-workers can be, and through ups and downs of successful and failed programs, Misty maintains a positive attitude which spills over to other staff and the community. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a time when Misty has lost composure and is always considering the other people around her, both co-workers and program participants.”

“I am inspired by Misty’s ability to not only get volunteers in the door and managing all the requirements for volunteers but how she makes them all feel welcome, how she listens to each of them and matches their volunteer expectations to where they will feel most comfortable and productive. I have watched her in volunteer gatherings taking the time to talk to each volunteer and remembering things that might be going on in their lives. I am inspired by Misty on a regular basis. She is kind in often a very unkind world. The light Misty shines on all of KBS makes everything a bit brighter for staff and volunteers alike.”

 

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