Former CCO student receives top environmental award
Karl Thomas is the Executive Director of RiverQuest, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit whose mission is “to impact people’s relationships to the world’s environment through unique river-based education and adventure experiences.” Karl graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1994, where he was actively involved in the CCO’s ministry.
On Wednesday, December 3, RiverQuest received the first-ever WorkBoat Environmental Award for their floating science-education classroom boat, the Explorer, because of its “overall environmentally responsible operation.”
[Bruce Buls, technical editor of the magazine] said RiverQuest people are pioneers for succeeding at “the first serious attempt in the country” to use that technology.
The award from WorkBoat magazine recognizes a U.S. business or government agency in the maritime industry that runs “the most overall environmentally responsible operation,” said Bruce Buls, technical editor of the magazine. RiverQuest was one of 15 finalists that included such global heavy hitters as Caterpillar Marine Power Systems and Honda Marine.
Thomas is especially proud that he and his colleagues did “something that’s never been done,” by building a U.S. Coast Guard-certified commercial vessel powered by a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. Siemens Marine Solutions in Georgia developed the system.
Click here to read “RiverQuest boat wins top award” in the December 5, 2008 edition of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
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