Two Dartmouth seniors and an alumni won awards from the Dartmouth Environmental Network for their contributions to environmental causes.
John French III '55, Bart Bingenheimer '94 and Jessica Keefe '94, were cited by the group for their outstanding efforts in helping the environment.
French, a New York City attorney with Beveridge and Diamond law firm, received the Dartmouth Environmental Network Award, which is presented annually to a College graduate, professor or staff member.
Bingenheimer and Keefe each won a Student Achievement Award, which is presented to Dartmouth seniors who have worked on environmental issues outside of the classroom.
The network was established in 1990 by a group of Dartmouth alumni, students, faculty, and staff who have an interest in the environment.
The group presented its awards at the annual Environmental Issues Symposium at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. The topic of this year's symposium was "Population and the Environment."
French, a graduate of Harvard Law School, worked to protect and strengthen community groups' right to protect environmentally unstable areas from harmful development projects.
In 1972, the New York State Legislature enacted a bill which French drafted that gave greater power to citizen conservation boards. His achievements include development of environmental law and wilderness protection for the areas such as the Franconia Notch in the White Mountains and the Hudson River.
French writes and lectures on legal implications of environmental preservation.
Bingenheimer, of Marblehead, Mass., is "a leader in bringing environmental issues and concerns to the attention of the Dartmouth College community," according to a statement from the network.
In 1992, Bingenheimer helped lead a successful student-run protest of the College's investments in the controversial Hydro-Quebec project. He campaigned against the project because of its impact on local Native American tribes and on the region's ecosystem.
Last winter, a committee of the Board of Trustees voted to sell the College's Hydro-Quebec holdings.
The environmental group also recognized Bingenheimer for his articles and opinion pieces on environmental issues in campus publications.
Keefe, of Needham, Mass., was called "a tireless worker on behalf of Dartmouth's natural environment."
Keefe served as co-chair of the Dartmouth Outing Club's environmental studies division in 1992. She was also cited for creating an organic garden at Kendal retirement community in Hanover.
Keefe is currently an administrative intern for the Dartmouth Recycles program.
"This is a wonderful award and an honor to which to aspire," Keefe said.
