Lake County Gazette

Lake Forest Schools have announced that the Susie Hoffmann Award for Nature and Conservation will be offered to a 2025 Lake Forest High School (LFHS) graduating senior by the Lake Forest Open Lands Association (LFOLA). The announcement was made in a press release.

The award recognizes a graduating LFHS senior who demonstrates a strong connection to the natural world and a commitment to land conservation and stewardship. It offers support for their continued pursuit of these interests beyond high school. Susie Hoffmann dedicated much of her career to creating opportunities for high school students in conservation by founding and leading the Center for Conservation Leadership at Lake Forest Open Lands, according to the press release.

"We have always had a close partnership with Lake Forest High School," said Ryan London, President and CEO of Lake Forest Open Lands, and an LFHS alum. He noted that LFHS students work alongside LFOLA’s land stewardship team at Eco-Crew volunteer workdays throughout the school year. "This is where we see the passion take seed, removing buckthorn, an invasive species, improving the land, protecting habitat. It’s through the hands-on work that the students really see it in action!"

According to its website, LFOLA is a non-profit, independently funded conservation and education organization committed to preserving local natural landscapes and ensuring that future generations can experience nature. Since its establishment in 1967, LFOLA has acquired and maintained over 900 acres of diverse native landscapes. The organization does not receive local tax funding but is supported by members, donors, and grantors, overseen by a volunteer Board of Governors. In 2009, it became the first Illinois land trust accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Lake Forest High School was established in 1935 as a public secondary school in Lake Forest, Illinois, serving grades 9–12. Approximately 95% of its students pursue higher education, supported by personalized instruction and a collaborative school environment. The school emphasizes mutual respect, high expectations, and a sense of belonging. It serves the communities of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood with the motto "Pursuits become habits," according to Lake Forest Schools.