The Wyland Foundation, dedicated to promoting oceanic environmental awareness, announced the winners of its Ambassador for the Planet Awards, which include La Jollan Mary Coakley, who received the Local Ambassador Award.
Coakley, a La Jolla Shores resident, will receive the Wyland award Sunday, April 20, at Scripps Birch Aquarium, during a special ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. The foundation chose Coakley for the award for her fund-raising skills and the continuous support she provides for educational art installation at La Jolla Shores Marine Reserve, according to a press release.
“[She’s] working to beautify and educate,” the Wyland Foundation press release said. “Mary Coakley … serves on several boards in San Diego with the goal of providing inspiring and educational environments for residents and visitors.”
Currently, Coakley helped the conceptualization of La Jolla’s MAP Project at Kellogg Park, which will guide residents and visitors with an underwater map of the shores and beyond and will include dive sites, fish and a Wyland sculpture.
“We went to experts in every area. The scuba diving areas are exactly how they should be labeled,” Coakley said. “Coastkeeper and Surfrider helped in how to name everything.”
Education is important to Coakley and others who work on the MAP Project. Although marine reserves will move, they are depicted on the project, but the Web site will update the area’s reserves as they move, Coakley said.
“We know the actual location of the reserves could change over time, but the important thing is to get people to understand what a reserve is,” she said.
In addition to myriad fish, JJ the whale will have a spot in La Jolla. A lifesize bronze sculpture by artist Wyland will rest at the MAP site, Coakley said.
“The best part about the project is that it’s been so well supported by the community and it’s gotten so much input by experts in leading marine ecology,” Coakley said. “February 25 is when [the foundation] sent out the news. And I thought it was a wonderful tribute to the community.”
Other Wyland award recipients include Dr. Charles Kennel, recipient of the Vision and Leadership Award. Kennel was the ninth director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and vice chancellor of marine sciences at the University of California, San Diego from 1997 to 2006.
Additional Ambassadors of the Planet are Courtney Hughes-Browne, Teacher Award; Rob Tobin, Inspiring Youth Award for working as a scenic artist, performing “extreme makeovers on Mission and Pacific Beach storefronts”; Carly Grimes and Guy Snell, Youth Ambassadors Award, both of Florida; Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, explorer and author; and Al Gore, Global Ambassador Award, for his commitment to educating the world about the importance of protecting the environment.
“The award is intended to recognize people in various fields who have shown extraordinary interest in promoting conservation awareness and protecting our blue planet,” the Wyland Foundation said.
The Wyland Foundation will honor its first ambassadors of the planet award recipients during an award ceremony at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way.
For further information, visit www.wylandoceanchallenge.org.