Powder Springs Student Wins PACE Award

On Nov. 14, the 2013 PACE Awards were presented in 12 categories to employers, schools, property managers and individuals who are devoted to improved mobility and air quality in the region. Among the winners was Powder Springs resident, Angela Henderson who took home the Dr. Marlin R. Gottschalk Leadership Award for the work she did while a fifth grader at Kemp Elementary.

Now in its 13th year, the PACE Awards are presented by The Clean Air Campaign, in partnership with the region’s transportation management associations and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

The Dr. Marlin R. Gottschalk Environmental Student Leadership Award recognizes a student who has put forth an outstanding effort to promote air quality and reduce air pollution. As a Kemp Elementary 5th grader last year, Henderson was in the Advanced Learning Program class taught by Mary Jo Groeneveld. Tasked with creating classroom activities for a school-wide Eco-Literacy Day, Angela researched local organizations that raise awareness for air pollution. On her own, she reached out to The Clean Air Campaign’s Executive Director, Tedra Cheatham, and invited her to be a guest speaker for the event.

“As metro Atlanta’s population continues to grow, commute options programs are essential for effectively managing the increased demand on our roadways and sustaining quality of life in our region,” said Clean Air Campaign executive director, Tedra Cheatham. “The many partners involved in Georgia Commute Options programs appreciate the efforts of all the employers, individuals and schools, especially those honored today,  that are doing their part to reduce traffic and improve air quality.”

The theme for the 2013 PACE Awards program explored the many ways that workplaces and individuals are banding together for sustainable transportation through their involvement in Georgia Commute Options, a suite of programs that combine all of metro Atlanta’s alternate commute resources including commuter incentive programs, ridematching, employer services, telework consulting and more.

The ceremony was held at the Georgia-Pacific Auditorium in downtown Atlanta.