Dr. Jack Parker, a founding faculty member of FIU and its Chemistry and Environmental Studies Departments, was awarded an FIU Medallion for service by the the President of FIU. Dr. Parker is an award-winning educator and environmental activist whose mission is to “green up” the next generation. Parker is professor of environmental studies and chemistry, as well as coordinator of the Environmental Studies Certificate Program at FIU. Among the many projects conducted by students under his tutelage, was the creation in 1978 of the environmental preserve at the University Park campus. Parker remains a passionate advocate of the preserve today. Parker’s efforts for an initiative called Children’s Rainforest led to an extensive environmental education program involving more than 150 schools in Dade County and the preservation of about 1,900 acres of pristine rainforest in Costa Rica. Working with FIU students, he also developed a program to provide ecological landscaping and other energy efficiency measures for several affordable housing projects with Habitat for Humanity. Parker is a member of the Board of Directors of the Biscayne Nature Center and Citizens for a Better South Florida, organizations devoted to educating young people, particularly minorities, on important environmental issues. Among many awards, Parker is the recipient of the American Forests’ National Research Medal for his pioneering studies of energy conservation landscaping and the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Florida Board of Regents.