MUNCIE, Ind. - A Fort Wayne school teacher will be honored April 30 by Ball State University for work in natural resources and environmental management.

John T. McCory, a biology teacher at Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, will receive the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management Alumni Award of Distinction at a recognition ceremony at the Alumni Center, 2800 Bethel Ave.

McCory is the second recipient of the prestigious award, which recognizes his outstanding achievements in natural resources and environmental management, and for devotion to the profession as it relates to classroom instruction.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 1958 and a master's degree in 1965 from Ball State. He obtained a second master's degree from Indiana University in 1973.

A teacher at Northrop for 28 years, he previously taught biology at Fort Wayne's Central High School for 13 years. McCory is also the owner-manager of a campground in Portland, Ind. From 1957-1970, McCory served as a naturalist at several state parks.

McCory is responsible for beginning a middle school nature study group at Fox Island Nature Preserve, where he is a board member, and for starting an Ecology Club at Northrop, serving as club sponsor for 27 years.

He holds memberships in the Environmental Education Association of Indiana, Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Izaak Walton League, National Education Association, and Independent Educators chapters of Fort Wayne and Indiana.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Sue Taylor, assistant director, Ball State Alumni Association, at (765) 285-1408.)