Alumna Kay Killian (’77, JD ’80) received the 2013 Blue Fin Award from the Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission for preserving more than 500 acres in Gaston and Lincoln counties near the lake to help preserve the quality of the Charlotte region’s drinking water.

The award recognizes people or organizations that have done positive things to benefit the lake, its residents and visitors.

Killian, assistant district attorney in Lincoln County, said the land was “part of the farm I grew up on as well as home to my family’s ancestors.” I was a board member of the Catawba Lands Conservancy about the time this process started and was interested in the concept of conservation easements.”

Marine Commission Chairman Kari Lanning praised Killian’s stewardship of the lake. “The Killian family has lived in the Mountain Island area for generations and own land that would be prized for development. Instead, Kay Killian and her family have put their land into conservancy, preserving it as rural and protecting the water quality of Mountain Island Lake.”

“Overall Wake Forest was a good experience, and I came out of it with friends who are still my closest friends,” said Killian, who is scheduled to be honored by the Gaston County Commission in December. “The best thing about this award is that it might give other people the idea to preserve their land.”