Title: Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam Content: Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam is an American conservationist. She is the founder of the Student Conservation Association. ==Early life and education== Putnam completed her graduation from Miss Porter's School in 1952 and from Vassar in 1955. ===Founding SCA=== She was a student at Vassar College in the 1950s. Putnam admired the natural heritage of America's national parks. However, she worried that limited financial resources would prevent proper maintenance of the beautiful parklands. In 1955, Putnam wrote her senior thesis at Vassar College, "A Proposed Student Conservation Corps". The idea modeled after the federal Civilian Conservation Corps program (1933–42). It was to take the burden of labor-intensive jobs such as entrance fee collecting or trail work from the National Park Service. Another example is the shift to the proposed SCC. == Career == She founded the Student Conservation Association in 1957. Putnam served as its President until her retirement in 1990. She currently lives in Shaftsbury, Vermont. ==Awards and honors== *In 2018, Vassar and the Hudson Valley chapter of the Student Conservation Association (SCA) planted a tree in her honor at the 415 acre Vassar Ecological Preserve. *2016 - The Wilderness Society's Robert Marshall Award *2015 - New York State Outdoor Education Association Leadership Award *2014 - Doctor of Humane Letters, College of Wooster *2012 - The Corps Network Lifetime Achievement *In 2011, the Vermont legislature passed act R-107 to honor Putnam. *In 2010, Putnam won the second highest civilian award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the first conservationist to win the honor. * 1982 - President Reagan - President's Volunteer Action Award * 1982 - Student Conservation Association - 25th Anniversary Award * 1980 - Garden Club of America - Conservation Achievement Award * 1974 - U.S. Department of the Interior - Distinguished Service Award * 1971 - Arizona Federated Garden Clubs - Distinguished Service Award * 1966 - Garden Club of America - Margaret Douglas Award == Gallery of the Student Conservation Association at work - an organization founded by Putnam in 1957 == File:SCA Community Crew 2014 (14918987765).jpg| File:SCA VIP 11 (9727213222).jpg File:2010 SCA 3 (9257715631).jpg File:Student Conservation Association-Girl Scout Trail Crew (28476131255).jpg| File:2013 SCA 35 (9668381317).jpg File:Meet Pya! (9034533860).jpg File:2015 SCA Crew 18 (21157690181).jpg File:Student Conservation Association volunteers working on the Prince of Wales mapping project 2.jpg| File:Personnel, 1981- naturalist division, Student Conservation Association (SCA), Zion Natural History Association (ZNHA). ; ZION (0274280e82644af2a4f43ecf0223f1dc).jpg File:Student Conservation Association- Girl Scout Trail Crew (27860299923).jpg File:Student Conservation Association- Girl Scout Trail Crew (27859575454).jpg File:Student Conservation Association volunteers working on the Prince of Wales mapping project.jpg File:Student Conservation Association intern Kevin Tran spoke about his experiences as an intern on the refuge (25550367394).jpg File:Student Conservation Association (SCA) volunteer Mike Prescott at Visitor Center information desk. ; ZION Museum and Archives (110f9f87bdf4441f96c481d05482b7c5).jpg File:Whale necropsy - Tongass National Forest 03.jpg File:Project leader (16893655980).jpg File:SCA crew at Paradise (16643027146).jpg File:SCA Community Crew 2014 (14896295476).jpg File:SCA crew at Paradise (16668056432).jpg File:2010 SCA Group 1 (9257593717).jpg File:Secretary Jewell and Director Ashe (15127381986).jpg File:DOI Secretaryt Jewell and students from the SCA (15127382886).jpg File:SCA VIP 7 (9727238516).jpg File:2013 SCA 14 (9671778276).jpg File:2013 SCA 30 (9671654374).jpg File:2013 SCA 46 (9668260765).jpg File:2013 SCA 1 (9257764215).jpg File:SCA crew working at Mount Rainier (16481723970).jpg File:Student Conservation Association (SCA) volunteer, Carol Ann Lau leading Angels Landing hike. ; ZION Museum and Archives Image (e3211ce63ace418fb52c90619d3fae58).jpg File:Swartout (9671513224).jpg