Bernard "Bernie" Zlomek used his position with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to educate thousands of children and adults about managing and respecting the environment.

Early in his career, he instituted a program to train volunteers to talk with elementary school classes about forest fire prevention and safety. A Project Manager for DNR's Cumberland office, Mr. Zlomek helped start the state and county Envirothon natural-resource competition for high school students. He initiated the national education program Project Learning Tree at Frostburg State University, teaching classroom environmental activities to more than 1,000 elementary teachers.

He also works with several county environmental education programs, including Outdoor School, the annual Arbor Day Celebration, 3rd Grader seedling program and Natural Resource Environmental Awareness Week.

Mr. Zlomek was awarded the 2001 Richard A. Johnson Environmental Education Award in recognition of his numerous and diverse efforts in the area of environmental education, which have touched the lives of both students and adults.