“Yes, it’s a leap from broadcast production, but I really enjoy it,” she said.

Nave, an Atlanta native, earned her B.S. from the department of journalism and mass communication in the then broadcast production sequence and spent nearly two years at Kiss 95.1 in Charlotte as an on-air personality and working in production and promotions.

As an announcer, she spent a lot of time speaking to middle schools students at career day events and found that she loved doing it.

“I enjoyed it so much I left radio and moved back to Georgia to become a motivational speaker,” she said.

She got the opportunity to facilitate workshops for two of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Keystone Conferences, as well as workshops for the CNN and Turner Broadcasting interns at CNN Center in Atlanta.

It was in November 2011 that Nave was hired by the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) in Georgia.

”The job announcement mentioned inspiring and motivating young people to serve as leaders in climate movement. I knew I already had the presentation component, and I knew I needed to work on the science aspect,” she said.

When she accepted the job, Nave received science training through a staff climatologist and then had to learn ACE’s presentation, which incorporates a lot of the skills she honed in her days as an on-air personality at WNAA and in Charlotte.

“We educate them through a multimedia presentation music, video and animation in the form of a Prezi – it engages students,” she said.

Since joining ACE, Nave has completed more than 75 projects and educated more than 45,000 students throughout the state of Georgia on climate and the daily things they can do be a part of the climate solution.

“Climate change is not something that is talked about much in Georgia, so it is an honor to be recognized for something I am challenged to do every day,” Nave said.

Nave was nominated by a colleague and received an e-mail in late January informing her of her nomination for the award. She was a little skeptical because she didn’t know she had been nominated.

“At first, I thought it was spam,” she said laughing. “But I submitted everything they asked me for, and I found out within a week that I had been selected.”

On Feb. 9, Nave and seven other “champions” were invited to the White House, where they each participated in panel discussions and breakout sessions about climate education. There was also a reception for the champions, their families and the students and agencies that participated in the day’s events.

For Nave and her fellow champions, the day was long, but it validated the strides they are each making in their respective communities.

“To receive any type of praise for your work is meaningful. I am being valued and my work is being honored,” Nave said. “It inspired me and let me know that what I do matters.”

Send Us Your News  
Do you have good news to share? Have you recently received a promotion or special recognition? If you’d like to be considered for a future story, click here.