When Brooks Ruder decided to volunteer to help rehabilitate injured birds of prey, he found his passion and also, quite literally, found a new name. On that fateful day, the then six-year-old Brooks decided to change his name to Chance, because as an apprentice falconer, he foresaw the chance to help animals survive. Now, eight years later, he and his brother, Josh, continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the environment and the creatures they love. Their efforts have earned them the state's highest environmental honor, the 2008 Texas Environmental Excellence Award, to be presented at an annual banquet April 30, in Austin.

Josh and Chance consider themselves translators for injured and endangered animals by providing a voice for their plights. They have written a play that teaches audiences how responsible land stewardship can recharge an aquifer, created their own video programs, and also have been working with the chief scientist at The Discovery Channel to raise awareness about endangered species. The teens have presented numerous educational demonstrations that feature animals to area school students. In these sessions, Chance serves as the speaker and Josh assists as an animal wrangler. By the end of 2007, the brothers had given 28 different presentations to audiences ranging from fifth-graders to graduate students at Texas State University.

Realizing that creative fundraising was critical to advancing their ideas, the brothers once collected $800 in pennies to pay for raptor rehabilitation. Additionally, they enter essay contests with cash awards and recently won a $5,000 check from a national clothing company to be used toward preserving Salado Creek. Yet Chance and Josh refuse to accept money for speaking engagements, believing they have been called to help educate others.

Years of spirited effort on behalf of birds and animals led to an invitation in October, 2007 to attend the Discovery Channel Young Scientists Challenge in Washington, D.C. The brothers also were interviewed last year by Robert Kennedy, Jr. for his nationally syndicated radio show. All of which goes to show how persistence and passion can carry a message well beyond a single city.

The TCEQ annually presents the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards to environmental projects across the state that demonstrate excellence in resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention. The award-winning programs reflect the goals of the TCEQ itself: to protect Texas human and natural resources and ensure clean air, clean water and the safe management of waste. For more information or to submit an application for next year's awards, visit TEEA.org.