Augustinian receives President's Award
Editha Mijares Ardiente, Vice President Environmental Affairs for International Truck and Engine Corporation of Warrenville, Illinois and 2005 President of the Air and Waste Management Association was given the prestigious Pamana Ng Pilipino (Heritage of the Filipino) Award by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at ceremonies held on December 7, 2006 at the President's Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines.
In conferring the Pamana Ng Pilipino Award, President Arroyo extolled Ardiente's "exemplary achievements as an environmental manager who advocates balance between industrial progress and environmental protection and her successful leadership of an international association of environmental professionals, the Air and Waste Management Association."
The Presidential Awards for Filipino individuals and organizations overseas is a biennial awards system created by an Executive Order in 1991 and managed by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, to give recognition to Filipinos and other individuals and organizations that contribute to Philippine development and progress or promote the interests of overseas Filipino communities. The Pamana Ng Pilipino Award, one of the four categories of the Presidential Awards, is "conferred on Filipinos overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession."
Ardiente is the top environmental officer of International Truck and Engine Corporation. She is responsible for establishing corporate environmental policies and guidelines and providing technical and regulatory assistance to all International locations and operations. Under her leadership, the company has been recognized for its environmental excellence and leadership as evidenced by over 100 environmental awards received by its operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and India. These awards were mostly for pollution prevention efforts with documented savings of over 80 million dollars.
Ardiente was previously manager of environmental protection for Borg Warner Corporation (1986-1987); served as section chief for the hazardous waste permitting program and section chief of the air enforcement program at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 (1979-1986); and was senior chemical engineer for Sargent and Lundy Engineers (1973-1979). Prior to coming to the United States she was an engineering instructor at the University of San Agustin in the Philippines.
Ardiente received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering, valedictorian, magna cum laude from the University of San Agustin in the Philippines. She was valedictorian of her high school class at the Colegio de San Jose in Jaro, Iloilo City. In college, she was a full university academic scholar and a Philippine Science Development Board scholar. She received her M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She is a registered professional engineer (PE) and a qualified environmental professional (QEP).