The endowment supporting this award was established in 2006 in honor of former Prof. W.T. Edmondson and his wife Yvette. Prof. Edmondson, through his passion and love for Lake Washington, played a critical role in creating and passing a bill enabling the creation of a metropolitan government "Metro" that eventually lifted the notorious "Lake Stinko" nickname from our now, clean and clear lake. This award provides support to graduate students who demonstrate the use of ecological thinking to make changes in issues of great relevance to our collective benefit, including research costs for supplies and research travel.