When Brooks Ruder decided to volunteer to help rehabilitate
injured birds of prey, he found his passion and also, quite
literally, found a new name. On that fateful day, the then
six-year-old Brooks decided to change his name to Chance, because
as an apprentice falconer, he foresaw the chance to help animals
survive. Now, eight years later, he and his brother, Josh, continue
to work tirelessly on behalf of the environment and the creatures
they love. Their efforts have earned them the state's highest
environmental honor, the 2008 Texas Environmental Excellence Award,
to be presented at an annual banquet April 30, in Austin.
Josh and Chance consider themselves translators for injured and
endangered animals by providing a voice for their plights. They
have written a play that teaches audiences how responsible land
stewardship can recharge an aquifer, created their own video
programs, and also have been working with the chief scientist at
The Discovery Channel to raise awareness about endangered species.
The teens have presented numerous educational demonstrations that
feature animals to area school students. In these sessions, Chance
serves as the speaker and Josh assists as an animal wrangler. By
the end of 2007, the brothers had given 28 different presentations
to audiences ranging from fifth-graders to graduate students at
Texas State University.
Realizing that creative fundraising was critical to advancing
their ideas, the brothers once collected $800 in pennies to pay for
raptor rehabilitation. Additionally, they enter essay contests with
cash awards and recently won a $5,000 check from a national
clothing company to be used toward preserving Salado Creek. Yet
Chance and Josh refuse to accept money for speaking engagements,
believing they have been called to help educate others.
Years of spirited effort on behalf of birds and animals led to
an invitation in October, 2007 to attend the Discovery Channel
Young Scientists Challenge in Washington, D.C. The brothers also
were interviewed last year by Robert Kennedy, Jr. for his
nationally syndicated radio show. All of which goes to show how
persistence and passion can carry a message well beyond a single
city.
The TCEQ annually presents the Texas Environmental Excellence
Awards to environmental projects across the state that demonstrate
excellence in resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution
prevention. The award-winning programs reflect the goals of the
TCEQ itself: to protect Texas human and natural resources and
ensure clean air, clean water and the safe management of waste. For
more information or to submit an application for next year's
awards, visit TEEA.org.
