Through intelligence, perseverance and hard work, teenager Mary Silliman has done more for the community and environment than the vast majority of adults could ever hope to achieve.

Now the rising Apex High School freshman has earned some impressive recognition for her efforts. Despite being just 13 years old, Silliman was recently named a winner in the N.C. Division of Forest Resources’ Urban Forestry Awards Program.

Silliman earned the prestigious Outstanding Individual Grand Award for her tireless efforts to make Apex a little greener.

Leader of a local 4-H Club, Silliman planned and organized the planting of 2,363 trees in Apex in late 2008 and early 2009. Not only did she enlist the help of Apex town officials but she also recruited over 150 volunteers and landed several business sponsorships.

“I am just so impressed with her,” said Apex Planning Director Dianne Khin who nominated Silliman for the award. “For a girl her age to organize so much is remarkable. Obviously, the (award judges) thought the same thing.”

Her father, Ben Silliman, said he was full of pride over his daughter’s achievement.

“I’m really happy for her,” said Ben. “Of course, I’m proud of her as a dad. I’m also glad that the group that judged her didn’t look at the fact she is so young. All they judged her on is the contribution she made to the community.”

He said his daughter wasn’t really fazed by the recognition.

“Mary is so humble,” said Ben. “She was happy and pleased but she is never boastful. To her it was a good day but it was still just another day. That’s just the way she is. She didn’t make a big deal out of it.” Silliman first approached the town about a tree-planting program in June of 2008. She spoke at a town council meeting about her 4-H Club, the Robocats, planting 1,000 trees as part of the 4-H Million Trees environmental community service program. Council was quick to support Silliman’s proposal. She planted four trees at Southern Wake Montessori School in October after speaking to preschoolers about the benefits of trees. A couple of days later Silliman and a group of volunteers planted 154 trees in Apex Community Park.

The biggest event came in February when over 150 volunteers planted 2,200 trees in Apex Jaycee Park. The event was held in the memory of Silliman’s older brother, Matt, who died in late 2008.

The Robocats finished with the second-highest total nationally in the 4-H Million Trees Project.

Silliman’s last project was planting a specimen Coast Redwood tree in Jaycee Park as part of an NC State University Department of Forestry research project.

In all, Silliman was able to enlist approximately 185 volunteers for 700 hours of work. Khin estimates the labor would have cost about $7,000.

“We don’t have a tree-planting program in Apex because we don’t have the budget,” said Khin. “So Mary really did make a difference in Apex with her projects. She is a very impressive young woman and I think she deserves the award for having such a positive influence on our community.”