At the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) Board of Trustees Meeting June 20 at the State Capitol, Lt. Governor Greg Bell joined SITLA in presenting Margaret Bird with its Friend of the Trust award for her contributions to the agency and overall growth of the Permanent School Fund. “I thank Margaret for her 40 years of dedicated service to the people of Utah, particularly Utah schoolchildren,” said Governor Gary Herbert in a written statement. “Her tremendous influence has helped the Permanent School Fund grow from $18 million in 1983 to $1.65 billion today. Her work will be a legacy for Utah students for generations.” Throughout her 40 years of dedicated service, Utah State Office of Education School Trust Lands Educational Specialist Margaret Bird has advocated wise management of trust lands for the benefit of Utah schoolchildren. As a result of Ms. Bird’s lobbying efforts, the Utah Legislature authorized the Public School Lands Task Force, which ultimately led to the creation of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration in 1994. In 1999, Ms. Bird was also instrumental in convincing the Utah Legislature to authorize the School LAND Trust Program, which directed that interest from the Permanent School Fund be distributed directly to each Utah school through a per-pupil formula.