Karen Stiles

With oceans being so vital to the environment, yet so inaccessible to students more than 1000 miles inland in Iowa 20 years ago, Stiles created the "Oceans Alive in Landlocked Iowa" program. Over the past 20 years they have reached tens of thousands of people, ages three to 93, through fieldtrips to their classroom and via on-and-off campus presentations. In 2004 alone, more than 8,000 people in Iowa and Florida have been touched by the program. Creativity, dedication and generosity helped students, parents, community members and Stiles develop the Marine Biology program for Central Iowa High School. More than 70 marine aquariums (largest