Writer, Storyteller, Speaker, Humorist, Photographer

Verna Gates has been recognized by her peers and organizations
worldwide for her contributions and skills as a writer, reporter,
photographer, lecturer and teacher.

Awards and Credits:

• Verna Gates Receives National Lifetime Achievement Award
  (9/12/09) San Antonio, Texas --- Citing the difficulties of journalism: from being ousted from a corporate headquarters, to being threatened with lawsuits, arrest, and bodily harm, Verna Gates accepted a lifetime achievement award from the National Federation of Press Women. Gates has covered topics ranging from bomber Eric Rudolph, church arsonists, Ten Commandment public display challenges, environmental injustice, corporate corruption and features such as Internet dating and travel. The Communicator of Achievement Award is presented annually to journalists based on professional achievement, community service and service to the organization. The top award winner was American icon, internationally syndicated lifestyle columnist Heloise, with Gates the runner-up. Watch Verna's acceptance speech on YouTube.
  
  
• Verna Gates Nominated for National Communicator of Achievement Award
  Being on the business end of a shotgun held by a pig farmer while exposing the underbelly of barbeque and industrial animal farming won Verna Gates her first national reporting award for a Business Alabama Monthly story. Gates has been nominated for the Communicator of the Year Award by the National Federation of Presswomen, their top national honor for journalists.
  
  
• Verna Gates Named AMP’s 2009 Communicator of Achievement
  
  
• Alabama Media Professionals proudly recommends Verna Gates for selection as the National Federation of Press Women’s 2009 Communicator of Achievement.
  
  
• Recent News and Feature Articles from Reuters, TIME, WashingtonPost.com, etc. are included here.
  
  
• Board Member Alabama Environmental Council
  
  
• One of Alabama's Unforgettable Faces 2003
  
  
• Past President Alabama Wildflower Society
  
  
• One of Alabama's Unforgettable Faces 2003
  
  
• The Huntsville Times:  "An Alabama Treasure"
  
  
• Birmingham Post Herald - July 2, 2002:  "Nature Lovers Favorite Places"
  
  
• UAB Media Relations story on course taught By Verna Gates
  
  
• Media Communications Association speaker Verna Gates on "Writing for Video" - March 2001
  
  
• Voted Conservationist Of The Year - 2002 by the Alabama Environmental Council
  
  
• Award Winning International Writer - 1998 - 2003
  
  
• A nationally recognized native plant folklorist, Verna Gates has been appointed a visiting professor of botany at Miles College.
  
  
• A teacher of native plant folklore across the Southeast for 14 years.
  
  
• Auburn University Library Program: "The Language of Flowers"
  
  
• University of Alabama in Birmingham Special Studies Program: "Halloween Herbs" (October 2000); "Origins of the Easter Bunny" (March 2000); "Really Say it With Flowers" (January 1999); "How Does Your Garden Grow?" (April 1999); "Easter Flower Lore" (March 1998); "May Day" (April 1998); "Scary Traditions" (October 1998)
  
  
• Wildflower photos won a Sierra Club award and were exhibited across the Southeast - 2001