Earlham College alums recognized by Cope Environmental Center for commitment to nature and sustainability

Earlham College graduates Thomas Hill ’19 and Jalen Sleet ’18 will be recognized by the Cope Environmental Center in September for their commitment to protecting nature.

The organization will award Hill with the Francis Parks Award and Sleet will receive the Jim & Helen Cope Award during its third annual Great Outdoors Celebration. Both awards recognize their efforts with property beautification initiatives and sustainability projects that ripple out into the wider community. Their achievements highlight a commitment to protecting the environment and inspiring others, celebrating not just their accomplishments but the passion and hope they bring to Cope and the surrounding community.

“I love that we started the awards because we have so many great people who contribute to making Cope a success, often behind the scenes,” said Marcy Crull, executive director for Cope Environmental Center. “It’s great to highlight that it’s not just our staff working to make the organization great, but also people like Thomas and Jalen who volunteer or serve on our board. They’re not typically ones to boast about themselves, so we really wanted to take the chance to uplift them and thank them for their incredible work for Cope and the community at large.”

The Francis Parks Award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the beautification and care of the Cope Environmental Center property. Named in honor of Francis Parks, whose vision and dedication helped shape the natural beauty of Cope, this award recognizes those who share that same passion for preserving and enhancing our outdoor spaces. Through hands-on work, creative landscaping, or ongoing stewardship, the recipient of this award plays a vital role in making Cope a welcoming, inspiring, and environmentally rich place for all who visit.

Hill, who is currently the GIS coordinator for the City of Richmond, has deep ties to the Cope Environmental Center rooted in childhood explorations of nature, including family ties to the Cope family’s farm. Since joining the organization’s Board of Directors in 2022, Hill has applied his expertise in GIS and drone technology to improve property mapping and accessibility, while also lending a hand at community events. For Hill, Cope is more than a role — it’s a source of peace and reflection, and a place where he can live out his values of service and stewardship.

The Jim & Helen Cope Award honors an individual who exemplifies visionary leadership in sustainability. Named after Cope Environmental Center’s founders, this award recognizes someone who carries forward their legacy through innovative practices, advocacy, and a deep commitment to creating a more sustainable future. Whether through professional efforts, community leadership, or personal example, the recipient of this award inspires others to live in harmony with the natural world and make lasting, positive change.

Sleet, the property manager of Earlham College’s Nature Reserve Systems, is being recognized for his advocacy for a sustainable future through his livelihood, leadership, and educational initiatives. Sleet’s work in environmental sustainability began in 2019 with invasive species management for Earlham’s Biology Department, including projects at Cope. Now managing over 400 acres in the nature reserve system, he has planted thousands of native trees, improved trails, and taught students’ hands-on stewardship. At Cope, he shares this expertise through guided hikes and programming, valuing it as a place where community, education, and sustainability thrive.

Founders Jim and Helen Cope first came to Richmond in 1947 to join the Earlham community. Helen worked in the science labs on campus in the early years of their marriage, and Jim joined the Earlham faculty as curator of the Joseph Moore Museum and lecturer in biology and agricultural science. He became the museum director in 1962 and continued to lecture in biology.

In 1992, the Copes turned their 28.5-acre farm into what is now the Cope Environmental Center to protect the land for future generations and served as pioneers in environmental education and sustainable living in the Wayne County area. Today, Cope has expanded into a 130-acre property with over three miles of hiking trails open to the public. The center works to connect people with nature through hands-on sustainability and nature-based education.  The Great Outdoors Celebration, now in its third year, is set for Saturday, Sept. 6. More information about the annual event is available at visitcope.org.

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About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 75 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.