The OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden sends this information as posted below:
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden Conservation Scientist, Dr. Emily Geest, received the Mayor’s Award from local non-profit OKC Beautiful at their 41st Annual Distinguished Service Awards celebration on March 26, 2026. Dr. Geest was honored with the Mayor’s Award for her work researching butterflies in urban environments, monarch butterfly tagging, cultivation of rare milkweed plants, and the development of the OKC Zoo Living Classroom Grant Program, presented by OG&E, that offers grant funding for pollinator gardens at OKC metro-area schools.
“The entire Zoo community is proud of the work Dr. Geest does, both in her research and the community,” said OKC Zoo Executive Director and CEO, Dr. Dwight Lawson. “The OKC Zoo’s vision is a world where all people take action to conserve wildlife and wild places, and Dr. Geest is definitely moving the needle in Oklahoma City.”
Since joining the OKC Zoo in 2022, Dr. Geest spearheads a number of research projects, including monarch butterfly tagging and a headstart program for rare native milkweed plants, which are vital for butterfly populations. Dr. Geest and Zoo colleagues gathered seedpods from critically imperiled milkweed varieties found throughout the state and brought them to the OKC Zoo’s horticulture team to raise as part of a headstart program, to bolster the plants in the wild. She oversees insect surveys of fireflies, dragonflies, and bees at the Zoo and across the state. In addition to publishing numerous scientific papers, Dr. Geest is also a United Nations Association-USA Global Goal Ambassador.
“OKC Beautiful is rooted in the belief that meaningful change happens when community members come together,” said Natalie Evans, Executive Director of OKC Beautiful. “This year’s honorees embody that spirit through their dedication to environmental stewardship and care for our city. We are honored to recognize their contributions, and we look forward to celebrating alongside the community they inspire.”
“I am flattered and humbled to receive the Mayor’s Award from OKC Beautiful, but I know I couldn’t do any of this on my own,” Dr. Geest said. “This is really an award that goes to the volunteers, the teachers, and the everyday conservationists who make this work possible. They are the ones making Oklahoma City, the state, and the world more beautiful.”
The OKC Zoo is located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35 and a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Daily Zoo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase Zoo admission in advance at okczoo.org/tickets to avoid the entry lines. Stay in the know on OKC Zoo happenings on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories.
Experience the OKC Zoo as only a ZOOfriends member can! With a ZOOfriends membership, enjoy free general admission to the Zoo for 12 months, plus additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming, and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at okczoo.org/membership.
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