Two leaders at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science were recognized this week for the work they contribute to not only the museum but also education and outreach when it comes to the state’s outdoors.
Angel Rhonke, director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, received the 2024 Outstanding Service to the Museum Profession Award on Wednesday at the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) in Baton Rouge, La. Rhonke was chosen from a group of nominees selected across the Southeast for their role in shaping the museum world. The award recognizes a leader with 10 or more years of service who has assisted the museum profession in areas including program organization and long-term cultural development.
“I am deeply honored to receive the SEMC Outstanding Service Award and to be recognized among such dedicated professionals,” Rhonke said. “This award reflects the hard work and passion of our entire team at the museum, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that values education, conservation, and connecting people with the outdoors.”
Rhonke, who was named director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science this past summer, has been with the museum in Jackson for nearly two decades and has used various roles to contribute to both the mission and growth of the museum.
Two days after Rhonke was recognized, the museum announced that one of her colleagues had also received an award during the annual conference for the Mississippi Science Teachers Association (MTSA) in Biloxi. Sabrina Cummings, an outreach conservation educator, was named 2024 Informal Educator of the Year.
“I’m thrilled to receive this award from my peers at MTSA,” Cummings said. “Teaching others about the wonders of science and the importance of conservation is my passion, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of nature enthusiasts and scientists.”
Cummings has worked as an outreach conservation educator with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science since 2015, primarily serving in southwest Mississippi and at the museum itself. She often utilizes her experiences as a classroom teacher and a field biologist to connect classroom curriculum with real-world experiences seen in nature.
