Rahul Durai said it was “a true honor” to win an award for his environmental work, especially one from Save the Dunes.
“Save the Dunes is such a legendary organization in Indiana,” said Durai, a first-year student at Indiana University. “It has such a long history in Northwest Indiana, and it’s been around for decades.”
Durai won the environmental advocacy organization’s Dorothy Buell Youth Environmental Award, named in honor of Save the Dunes’ founder.
Indra Frank, who retired in May as director of environmental health and water policy for the Hoosier Environmental Council, won the Paul H. Douglas Memorial Award.
Frank’s award is named for Illinois Sen. Paul Douglas, who was instrumental in establishing the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, according to a Save the Dunes news release.
In a statement, Frank said she was honored to receive the organization’s award.
“I am also honored by the legacy this award carries with it,” she said. “It is named for an impactful environmental leader, who made an incredible difference, and I am humbled by the list of prior awardees and their accomplishments.”
Betsy Maher, executive director of Save the Dunes, said the two annual awards are the highest honor from the organization.
The Douglas Award is given to someone who is recognized for their work preserving and protecting the Indiana Dunes, while the Buell Award is given to individuals or groups between the ages of 13 and 24 who have advocated for the environment within the Lake Michigan watershed, Maher said.
Save the Dunes was founded in 1952 and is based in Michigan City, according to its website. The organization serves Lake, Porter and La Porte counties, Maher said.
“We know how important the national park is to our region and the monumental task that it is to protect it,” she said. “We want to recognize the people who continue to pick up the baton and do the important work of protecting the dunes so future generations can benefit.”
Throughout the year, those who have done outstanding work can be nominated for the awards, Maher said.
Durai won his award after he co-founded Confront the Climate Crisis, a statewide youth-led climate action organization. He has advocated for wetlands and said he was “deeply involved” in Indiana’s 2024 legislative session.
Durai advocated against House Bill 1383, which removed protections for Indiana’s isolated wetlands. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb on Feb. 12, according to the Indiana General Assembly website.
The Indiana University student is a West Lafayette native, so a majority of his advocacy focuses on water issues, including those that affect the Wabash River and greater Lafayette community.
As part of a Sustainability Scholars Program at IU, Durai plans to work on research that deals with climate change effects and adaptation.
“I’m really just unleashing my curiosity and continuing my learning while also being somewhat involved in advocacy,” Durai said. “But, this is a new phase of life, so there’s a lot ahead.”
Durai said it’s important for people, especially those in his generation, to be involved with environmental advocacy because it’s going to affect so much of the future. The economy, public health and quality of life are all impacted by the environment, Durai said.
“Indiana is a state where we have the most polluted waterways in the nation,” he added. “This is an issue that the decisions we make today will affect us for decades to come.”
It’s a moment to celebrate those also advocating for Indiana’s environment, Maher said.
“At the end of the day, the work is difficult,” she added. “It can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in Northwest Indiana, so taking a moment to celebrate our successes is really important.”
