Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation and Keep America Beautiful have honored a local program, school and student for their work for the environment.

At the annual KGBF awards luncheon Wednesday, Lewis Frasier Middle School, Keep Liberty Beautiful and Feliz Linzan, a University of Georgia student and KLB volunteer, were among the 30 award winners honored for program and volunteer excellence in community improvement, waste reduction and recycling.

Linzan, a third-year UGA student, was selected as KGBF’s Student of the Year. He has been an KLB volunteer since his sophomore year in high school. He has provided leadership in numerous litter-prevention, community-greening and recycling projects. Even in Athens, Linzan has kept KLB’s social media programming up to date.

Lewis Frasier Middle won first place in the Community Greening Category for a spring project implemented by the school’s STEM classes to revitalize the school’s outdoor classroom. More than 260 students under the guidance of their teachers created an environmentally friendly space for classes.  

KLB won a first-place affiliate award for overall programming excellence. KLB has been an affiliate of KGBF and KAB since 1983. There are 78 KAB affiliates in Georgia.

“These programs and individuals who are honored today show great leadership as environmental stewards for our state,” said Sarah Visser, the state foundation’s executive director. “Local communities should be very proud of the efforts of these groups and individuals, who represent the best in our state. We are proud to highlight the great work and progress being made statewide.”

KLB and Lewis Frasier Middle will also receive national awards at the KAB awards ceremony in February.  

LFMS was selected as this year’s Outstanding School in the Youth and Education, K-12 category. KLB is receiving an Award of Excellence for overall programming.

In the last 10 years, KLB and numerous KLB community partners — schools, businesses and organizations — have been honored with more than 40 state and national awards.