Award Nominations

All across America there are dedicated people and organizations who marshal their special talents and resources to help protect and restore the wildlife, environment and natural resources that mean so much to us all. The National Wildlife Federation seeks your nomination of these very special conservation heroes whose contributions inspire us all. Award winners will be honored during the National Wildlife Federation’s 2024 annual meeting.

National Conservation Achievement Awards

Affiliate of the Year Award

Recognizes an NWF affiliate organization for conservation accomplishments and contributions to collaborative efforts across the Federation.

Affiliate of the Year Nomination Guidelines

Nominators will be asked to provide the following information:

I. Describe the nominee’s history of commitment to conservation.

II. Describe how the nominee has aided in the protection of wildlife or natural resource conservation efforts. Please include specific examples.

III. Describe how the nominee has contributed positively to the Federation.

IV. Describe how the nominee has served as an inspiration to others.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Recognizes an outstanding NWF affiliate volunteer or someone connected to the NWF affiliate family who gives their time, talents, and service to support the conservation efforts of the Federation.

Volunteer of the Year Nomination Guidelines

Nominators will be asked to provide the following information:

I. Describe the nominee’s volunteer work, including length of time served.

II. Describe any specific and noteworthy accomplishments during that time that have benefitted the nominee’s community and supported the mission of the affiliate and of the Federation.

III. Describe how the nominee demonstrates the spirit of volunteerism and has served as an inspiration to others.

IV. Describe the nominee’s history of commitment to conservation.

Conservation Leadership Award

Recognizes a sustained commitment to conservation efforts and the protection of wildlife by an individual whose work serves as an inspiration to others.

Conservation Leadership Nomination Guidelines

Nominators will be asked to provide the following information:

I. Describe the nominee’s history of commitment to conservation.

II. Describe how the nominee has aided in the protection of wildlife or natural resource conservation efforts. Please include specific examples.

III. Describe how the nominee has contributed positively to the Federation.

IV. Describe how the nominee has served as an inspiration to others.

Young Leader Award

Recognizes the special conservation efforts or achievements of a young person who has worked to inspire change.

Young Leader Nomination Guidelines

Nominators will be asked to provide the following information:

I. Describe the nominee’s history of commitment to conservation.

II. Describe how the nominee has aided in the protection of wildlife or natural resource conservation efforts. Please include specific examples.

III. Describe how the nominee has contributed positively to an affiliate organization and to the Federation as a whole.

IV. Describe how the nominee has served as an inspiration to others.

Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award

This special achievement award was created in memory of Charlie Shaw, an NWF southeastern regional executive who passed away in 1990. Charlie is best remembered for fostering strong partnerships between NWF and our affiliates and for mentoring new leaders. This award recognizes individuals who continue to carry on the spirit of his work and reaffirm his accomplishments in building strong affiliates—and strong partnerships with affiliates.

Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Nomination Guidelines

An award is made in each of two categories:

  1. A volunteer or staff member from an affiliate organization
  2. A staff member of the National Wildlife Federation
    Note: Directors of Conservation Partnerships and the Affiliate Partnerships Team are not eligible.

 

Nominators will be asked to provide the following information:

I. Describe how the nominee has demonstrated appreciation for the value and power of the NWF-affiliate partnership.

II. Describe how the nominee has contributed to the success of an affiliate organization (or multiple affiliates) and the National Wildlife Federation, as well as contributed to a stronger Federation relationships.

III. Describe the nominee’s efforts to accomplish the shared conservation goals of the Federation, particularly detailing efforts to reach out to organizations other than the nominee’s own.

IV. Describe the way in which the nominee has sought cooperation and collaboration among the Federation.

V. Describe how the nominee has gone above and beyond their normal job responsibilities in pursuit of positive change.

A Tribute to Charlie Shaw
Charlie Shaw’s peers established this award to honor him. It recognizes the spirit of Charlie’s work as an affiliate executive director and later as an NWF staff member. Charlie loved the National Wildlife Federation. In his eyes, the Federation was not simply a partnership or relationship between the National and each affiliate partner. Charlie rightly saw all of us as part of one big family—many of us different, but all working together toward our shared goal of protecting wildlife and habitat.

Charlie was many things to many people. He was a dedicated employee, a teacher, a businessman, an entrepreneur, a skilled fundraiser, a bass fisherman and a friend of wildlife and all people who care about conservation. Most of all, he was a mentor. He coached, shared and led—first as a private businessman, then as executive director of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and finally as a regional executive for NWF.

Charlie felt strongly about the role that NWF staff and affiliate leaders play in advancing conservation initiatives. He knew that the teamwork and cooperation that result in on-the-ground victories required dedicated individuals, effective affiliate leadership and a commitment to a joint mission.

This tribute reaffirms Charlie’s accomplishments in building strong affiliates—and strong partnerships with affiliates—and the unselfish style of team play he developed and understood was necessary to win the game for wildlife.

Kent Salazar Director of Conservation Partnership Award

This special achievement award is given to one of NWF’s Directors of Conservation Partnership (DCPs) in honor of Kent Salazar, former NWF and New Mexico Wildlife Federation board chair and longtime board member and champion of the NWF-affiliate partnership. This award is given annually to one DCP to recognize the work they do, going above and beyond, in service to the essential relationship between NWF and affiliates.

Kent Salazar Director of Conservation Partnership Nomination Guidelines

Nominators will be asked to provide the following information:

I. Describe how the nominee has contributed to the success of an affiliate organization outside of their own or the spirit of One Federation as a whole, and/or

II. Describe how the nominee has gone above and beyond their normal job responsibilities in service to the Federation model and our work as One Federation, and/or

III. Describe how the nominee has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to partnership, collaboration, and communication amongst their fellow staff or the affiliate network, and/or

IV. Describe how the nominee has shown a sustained and substantial effort over many years in support of their affiliates and the affiliate network

Past Honorees

2023 New Mexico Wildlife Federation
2022 Conservation Northwest
2021 Michigan United Conservation Clubs
2020 Idaho Wildlife Federation
2019 Arizona Wildlife Federation
2018 Tennessee Wildlife Federation
2017 Environmental League of Massachusetts
2016 Association of Northwest Steelheaders
2015 Renewable Resources Coalition
2014 Prairie Rivers Network
2013 Conservation Council for Hawai’i
2012 Delaware Nature Society
2011 Texas Conservation Alliance
2010 North Carolina Wildlife Federation
2009 New Mexico Wildlife Federation
2008 Conservation Federation of Missouri
2007 Conservation Federation of Missouri
2006 Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
2005 Florida Wildlife Federation
2004 Arkansas Wildlife Federation
2003 Montana Wildlife Federation
2002 Nebraska Wildlife Federation
2001 Planning and Conservation League
2000 Alabama Wildlife Federation
1999 Idaho Wildlife Federation
1998 Natural Resources Council of Maine
1997 Virgin Islands Conservation Society
1996 New Hampshire Wildlife Federation
1995 Delaware Nature Society
1994 South Carolina Wildlife Federation
1993 Michigan United Conservation Clubs
1992 Georgia Wildlife Federation
1991 Environment Council of Rhode Island
1990 Montana Wildlife Federation
1989 Conservation Council of Hawai’i
1988 Vermont Natural Resources Council
1987 Louisiana Wildlife Federation
1986 Minnesota Conservation Federation
1985 Mississippi Wildlife Federation
1984 Colorado Wildlife Federation
1983 Wyoming Wildlife Federation
1982 Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM)
1981 Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
1980 Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
1979 Tennessee Conservation League
1978 IA Wildlife Federation & VA Wildlife Federation
1977 South Carolina Wildlife Federation
1976 Michigan United Conservation Clubs
1975 NC Wildlife Federation & ND Wildlife Federation
1974 GA Wildlife Federation & OK Wildlife Federation
1973 KS Wildlife Federation & MT Wildlife Federation
1972 Alabama Wildlife Federation
1971 Vermont Natural Resources Council
1970 Arkansas Wildlife Federation
1969 NRCM & NC Wildlife Federation
1968 Indiana Conservation Council
1967 Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of New Hampshire
1966 Virginia Wildlife Federation
1965 Minnesota Conservation Federation
2023 Jesse Deubel, New Mexico Wildlife Federation
2022 Douglas Tallamy
2021 Jay Kehne, Conservation Northwest
2020 Claude Jenkins, Alabama Wildlife Federation
2019 Dan and Connie Burkhardt, Katy Land Trust and Magnificent Missouri
2018 Dr. Katherine Stephens, South Carolina Wildlife Federation
2017 G. Richard Mode, North Carolina Wildlife Federation
2016 The Honorable Thomas B. Evans, Jr., U.S. Congress, Delaware
2015 Susan Flader, Ph.D, University of Missouri
2014 Michael Riska, Delaware Nature Society
2013 Connie Harvey, Aspen Wilderness Workshop & Hal Herring, writer and journalist
2012 Don Baugh, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
2021 Laura Mendenhall, Kansas Wildlife Federation
2020 Pete Pedersen, Environmental League of Massachusetts
2019 Mike McKernan, South Dakota Wildlife Federation
2018 Michelle Blair, Mississippi Wildlife Federation
2017 Lil Pipping, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
2016 Ellen McNulty, Arkansas Wildlife Federation
2015 Pat Jones, Conservation Federation of Missouri
2014 Norm Ritchie, Association of Northwest Steelheaders
2013 Phil Taunton, Kansas Wildlife Federation
2012 Jane Tillman, Texas Conservation Alliance
2011 Peter Schutt, Tennessee Wildlife Federation
2010 Lorraine and Dick Fleming, Delaware Nature Society
2009 Peg Baseden, Delaware Nature Society
2008 Peter Brann, Natural Resources Council of Maine
2007 Ed Zygmunt, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future
2006 Bob Johnson, Washington Wildlife Federation
2023 Greg LeClair
2022 Deja Perkins
2021 Charmayne Planter, John Deitsch, Earyn McGee
2020 Manoj Sarathy, Conservation Northwest
2018 Dakin Hewlett, Delaware Nature Society
2017 David Calandro, Conservation Federation of Missouri
2016 Daniel Romero
2015 Jomar Floyd
2014 Michael Roles
2013 Jessica Howe
2010 Grace Breitenbeck
2009 Taylor Francis
2007 Carlos Morenos
2006 Colby Davidson
2005 Welland Burnside
2004 Alexis Kuiper
2003 Shelley Cheung
2002 Nicole Halpin
2001 Angela and Lauren Strong
2000 Danae Drashner
1999 United Anglers of Casa Grande High School
1998 Ney Frog Project Students
1997 La’Moyne Williams
1994 The Dolphin Defenders
1993 Brenda Lee Haylett
1992 Zoe Adams Ferguson
2023 Mike Worley, Georgia Wildlife Federation & Naomi Edelson, NWF
2022 Eric Stiles, New Jersey Audubon & Hilary Barbour, NWF
2021 Brad Powell, Arizona Wildlife Federation & Ben Kota, NWF
2020 George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation & Frank Szollosi, NWF
2019 Bob Rees, Association of Northwest Steelheaders & Lisa Moore, NWF
2018 Dave Chadwick, Montana Wildlife Federation & Tiffany Woods, NWF
2017 Angie Rosser, West Virginia Rivers Coalition & Jim Lyon, NWF
2016 Janice Bezanson, Texas Conservation Alliance & Don Hooper, NWF
2015 Tom Mackin, Arizona Wildlife Federation & Doug Inkley, NWF
2014 Mack Turner, Texas Conservation Alliance & Jan Goldman-Carter, NWF
2013 Dan Chu, NWF
2012 Tim Gestwicki, North Carolina Wildlife Federation & Trudy Kerr, NWF
2011 Jack Schempp, Environment Council of Rhode Island & Claudia Malloy, NWF
2009 John Goss, Indiana Wildlife Federation
2008 Andy McDaniels, Oklahoma Wildlife Federation & Sarah Gannon-Nagle, NWF
2007 G. Richard Mode, North Carolina Wildlife Federation & Felice Stadler, NWF
2006 Oscar Simpson, New Mexico Wildlife Federation & FG Courtney, NWF
2005 Dennis Beuchler, Colorado Wildlife Federation & Ben Deeble, NWF
2004 Dick Fleming, Delaware Nature Society & Julie Sibbing, Eliza Russell, and Mark Winland; NWF
2003 Jim Wood, Arkansas Wildlife Federation & David Mizejewski and Tom Lustig, NWF
2002 Keith Saucier, Louisiana Wildlife Federation & Tom Dougherty and Vicki Seastrom, NWF
2001 Chuck Rice, North Carolina Wildlife Federation & David Conrad, NWF
2000 Duane Hovorka, NE Wildlife Federation; Angela Viney, SC Wildlife Federation & Jerry Mulligan, NWF
1999 Dave Dittloff, Wyoming Wildlife Federation & Glenn Sugameli, NWF
1998 Chris Kilian, Vermont Natural Resources Council & Rick Spencer, NWF
1997 Paul Beaudette, Environment Council of Rhode Island & Susan Witek, NWF
1996 Mary Shriver, New Hampshire Wildlife Federation & Jim Irwin, NWF
1995 Jerry McCollum, GA Wildlife Federation; Al Rollo, MT Wildlife Federation & Laura Hickey, NWF
1994 Chip Brown, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen Clubs & Craig Tufts, NWF
1993 Manley Fuller, FL Wildlife Federation; Becky Scheibelhut, IN Wildlife Federation & Deehon Ferris, NWF
1992 Loren Forbes, IA Wildlife Federation; John Eichinger, MI United Conservation Clubs & Catherine Malinin, NWF

Please contact Jessica Holmberg with any questions.