At our 2025 Summit, Genesee RiverWatch recognized its 2025 Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award recipient – Kaeti Stoss. This award is given to individuals, organizations, projects or events in recognition of significant contributions to our mission of “championing solutions that improve the water quality of the Genesee and initiatives that connect people to the River”. The award is in honor of Elizabeth Thorndike, longtime supporter of Genesee RiverWatch and one of the founders of its predecessor organization, the Center for Environmental Information.

Award winners have demonstrated success in (1) improving the water quality of the Genesee River Basin; (2) creating environmental, recreational, and economic assets for their communities; and/or (3) connecting people to the river by encouraging them to explore, experience, and celebrate the river.

Congratulations, Kaeti!

Kaeti Stoss

Kaeti Stoss is an Environmental Education Specialist in RIT’s College of Science where she has delivered high quality environmental education for our region with a focus on water quality, the Genesee River, and other water bodies. She has led community engagement and education efforts for numerous projects related to water quality and plastic pollution. Kaeti translates science for the community in a way that is accessible and actionable.

Some highlights of her accomplishments include:

• Many environmental stakeholders in the Rochester area had their first interaction with Kaeti in her role as the Program Director for Delta Environmental where she used her passion for creating community partnerships to enrich local environmental education for many years.
• Co-creating the Environmental Education Genesee River program with Lisa Wing of Corn Hill Navigation. The program takes over 500 fifth graders from the Rochester City School District out on the river aboard the Riverie (Corn Hill Navigation’s tour boat) during the month of June. The students examine the river’s biological, chemical, and physical characteristics to determine if it is healthy for us and other living organisms. They also learn how to protect water quality. With support from NOAA, Kaeti is incorporating new material on stormwater and plastic pollution.
• Creating a plastic pollution curriculum for out-of-school educators. This information was shared both online and through teacher training supported by a grant from NY Sea Grant.
• Partnering with a variety of community organizations to develop and deliver the Community Action for Stormwater Cleanup and Debris Elimination (CASCADE) program. The CASCADE program is supported by the National Sea Grant Office, Marine Debris Program through grants to New York Sea Grant and RIT.
• Translating research outcomes about plastic debris and microplastic pollution for projects supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
• Leading RIT’s efforts on the Community Engagement Core (CEC) for the Lake Ontario Center for Microplastics and Human Health

As a life-long contributor to the environmental improvement of western New York and to the health of the Genesee River, Kaeti Stoss is a perfect example of the spirit behind the Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award.