{"id":1957,"date":"2024-10-31T17:01:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T21:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/?post_type=release&p=1957"},"modified":"2026-01-28T12:53:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T17:53:55","slug":"ruby-falls-recognizes-exceptional-team-members-with-steiner-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"release","link":"https:\/\/www.rubyfalls.com\/releases\/ruby-falls-recognizes-exceptional-team-members-with-steiner-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruby Falls Recognizes Exceptional Team Members with Steiner Scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"

(October 31, 2024) <\/b>\u2013 Ruby Falls announces the selection of three outstanding employees to receive the annual John Thomas Steiner, Sr. Memorial Scholarship. Levi Kirk, Amy Johnson, and Ryan Davenport have been honored with the award for their commitment to academic achievement and dedicated service to the community.<\/p>\n

Levi Kirk has been a valuable member of the Ruby Falls team since March 2022. A freshman at Western Governors University, Kirk is pursuing a Secondary Education in Chemistry degree and hopes to become a high school chemistry teacher. \u201cI became passionate about this path from having amazing teachers and a love for science,\u201d shares Kirk. While in high school, Kirk volunteered with Walker County Schools, further fostering his interest in service and leadership. Kirk began his employment at Ruby Falls at age 16 and has since gained experience in various roles, resulting in his selection to the leadership position of Connections Ambassador. In this capacity, he serves as a peer-to-peer mentor, facilitating internal communication and providing training to fellow team members.<\/p>\n

Amy Johnson joined the Ruby Falls team as a tour guide in July 2023. Due to her passion for wildlife conservation, she is enrolled in the master\u2019s Environmental Science program at UTC. For the past five years, Johnson volunteered for banding stations in the southeastern US and worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to restore habitats for endangered species. \u201cAs I continue to learn, grow, and gain experience, I feel confident that after obtaining my master\u2019s degree, I will pursue a PhD and continue my pursuit of knowledge,\u201d shares Johnson. In addition to leading groups through the Ruby Falls caverns, Johnson works as a Teacher Assistant at UTC and a field research technician for the Appalachian Conservation Institute.<\/p>\n

A Ruby Falls tour guide since August 2023, Ryan Davenport is a second-year master\u2019s student at UTC, working towards his degree in Environmental Science. His studies focus on researching and applying conservation practices for bird species and ecosystems. \u201cVery quickly, I was fascinated by birds and alarmed by their imperiled state, with virtually all species currently in decline,\u201d says Davenport. To attain hands-on experience, he has volunteered at the Panola Mountain Banding Station and the Whigg Meadow Banding Station. Like Johnson, Davenport worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, restoring habitats for endangered and declining species.<\/p>\n

\u201cLevi, Amy, and Ryan are wonderful examples of how Ruby Falls team members connect to excellence and leadership,\u201d says Kara Van Brunt, Executive Director at Ruby Falls. \u201cWe are proud to invest in our students and are excited for what they will achieve through their studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The John Thomas Steiner, Sr. Collegiate Scholarship was established in 2008 to honor the memory of the former Ruby Falls president and seeks to recognize Ruby Falls employees who have demonstrated commitment to their community and careers. Movita \u201cMo\u201d Steiner, widow of the late John Steiner, Sr. presented the awards.<\/p>\n

\"Mo

Mo Steiner presents Ryan Davenport and Levi Kirk with the 2024 Steiner Scholarship. (Amy Johnson not pictured.)<\/p><\/div>\n

Press Kit and Images: <\/b>\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/bit.ly\/steiner_scholarship<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Return to Press Release Library<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

About Ruby Falls <\/b><\/p>\n

Celebrating 95 years since its discovery, Ruby Falls is home to the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States. Over half a million guests visit the thundering waterfall annually, located 1,120 feet beneath the summit of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN. Committed to cave conservation and environmental sustainability, Ruby Falls is the first attraction in the United States to earn certification from Green Globe and is recognized as a leader in tourism sustainability. www.RubyFalls.com<\/span><\/p>\n

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