By Emily Ingram

Tribune-Herald staff writer

The Tribune-Herald was among those honored Thursday as Keep Waco Beautiful handed out its 20th annual Partners In Pride awards to individuals, businesses and organizations that contributed to the nonprofit agency’s mission.

“I just think it’s really important to recognize what’s going on in the community, what community leaders are doing to make Waco a better place to live,” said KWB executive director Sherri Street.

The Tribune-Herald was given the Environmental Awareness Award for the paper’s Living Green Web page.

“This award is especially gratifying because it comes at a time when not only the Trib, but the entire community has become more sensitive to the mission of Keep Waco Beautiful,” Tribune-Herald Editor Carlos Sanchez said.

Waco Today editor and KWB vice president Gretchen Eichenberg was given the Goldie Award for Innovation for her creative contributions to the organization.

“I love Keep Waco Beautiful,” Eichenberg said. “The organization’s members actually roll up their sleeves and are out in the community cleaning, raking, picking up trash. They don’t just sit in a room and think of things others can do.”

Others awarded Thursday included:

* School Custodian of the Year: Henry Lopez, Viking Hills Elementary.

* Beautification Award: “Pastor’s Painting Challenge,” the Rev. Wilbert Austin and NeighborWorks Waco.

* Environmental Education Award: monarch butterfly garden project, Woodway Elementary second grade gifted and talented students. Recognized in this category was “March Madness,” Heart of Texas Master Naturalists.

* Litter Prevention/CleanUp Award: Quinn Campus restoration project, Rapoport Academy. Recognized in this category was the community service program at the Bill Logue Juvenile Justice Center.

* Recycling Award: “Go Green Recycling Program,” Baylor University sustainability committee.

* “Go Green” Business Award: Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

* Environmental Achievement Award: city of Waco.

* Waco’s Environmental Volunteers of the Year Award: McLennan County Master Gardeners.

* Keep Waco Beautiful & Keep McLennan Beautiful Rising Star Recycling Award: Andrew Guiterrez, Crestview Elementary fifth-grader.

* Frances Sturgis Award: Michael Goldenberg.

* Waco Foundation’s Ruth & Lawrence McMillan Award: Bob Gordon.

* Keep McLennan County Beautiful Business Award: Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore.

* Keep McLennan County Beautiful City Award: city of Waco.

* Keep McLennan County Beautiful Volunteer of the Year: Elaine Alexander.

* Keep McLennan County Beautiful President’s Award: Bob Gordon.

* Keep McLennan County Beautiful Founders’ Award: Shirley Blanton.