By Lynette Cox
Isaac Wolfe Bernheim Climate Hero Awards Presented to Carmel Bowman and Maggie Hettinger at RESTORE
Alya Tolentino receives first Next Gen Climate Hero Award
The 2025 Isaac Wolfe Bernheim Climate Hero Awards were presented on Saturday, April 19 at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum to two sisters, Carmel Bowmen and Maggie Hettinger. The Next Gen Climate Hero Award was presented to Ayla Tolentino, a seventh grader from Franklin County. Established in 2024, Bernheim’s climate hero awards recognize environmental stewards who are making a tangible impact and demonstrating meaningful action in the fight against climate change.
“We are pleased to honor both Carmel and Maggie for integrating sustainability into their daily lives, advocating for sustainable polices, and engaging their neighbors,” stated Dr. Mark K. Wourms, President and CEO at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. “The most effective climate leaders are those that lead by example. They inspire us all to take action.”
Carmel Bowman, a Nelson County resident, powers her home with solar panels and sends extra energy back to the grid. She shares her knowledge with others by hosting home tours and community workshops to help others understand how to transition to clean energy. Workshop attendees test-drive electric vehicles, talk to experts, and leave with ideas to make their homes more energy efficient. Bowman has also organized commercial solar seminars to help businesses and nonprofits take advantage of incentives. In addition, she works to protect local waterways through water quality monitoring and is involved in citizen science projects focused on biodiversity.
A longtime advocate with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Maggie Hettinger of Bullitt County, has spent years educating people about the urgent need for climate action. Her efforts have included writing letters to the editor and organizing workshops on sustainable solutions. Hettinger utilizes solar and geothermal to power her home and drives an electric car. She has dedicated herself to educating the public by speaking at events, writing opinion pieces and engaging in direct conversations to shift perspectives on climate action.
Find out more about how Carmel and Mattie are leading by example and inspiring change in the blog, Isaac Wolfe Bernheim Climate Heroes 2025 published on April 24, 2025.
This year, Bernheim introduced the Isaac Wolfe Bernheim Next Gen Climate Hero Award which honors young people who are making meaningful contributions to environmental stewardship. The award celebrates bold curiosity, community care, and a deep love for nature. Ayla Tolentino, a 12-year-old from Franklin County. Tolentino currently serves as vice president of her middle school FFA chapter. She is passionate about native plants, pollinators, and soil health. At RESTORE, she shared a speech she wrote about the importance of using native plants in landscape design. Read more in the Planting Seeds of Change: Honoring Ayla Tolentino blog published on April 24.
“Ayla reminds us that environmental advocacy isn’t just a job for adults,” explained Dr. Wourms “Her conviction and care for the natural world is an inspiration for all, and Bernheim is pleased to recognize Ayla as an environmental champion.”
