Awards Committee
The Awards Committee is responsible for recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the conservation and/or knowledge of desert tortoises and their habitat, or to achieving the goal and objectives of the Desert Tortoise Council.
For 2023, the Board of Directors of the Desert Tortoise Council invites members to submit names of individuals for potential awards, using the list below for the appropriate award. To submit a name to the Awards Committee, please provide the name and a letter describing the accomplishments of the individual to email hidden; JavaScript is required
Awards
The following awards are considered on an annual basis and provided at Annual Symposia:
Kristin H. Berry Annual Award: This is the Council’s oldest and most prestigious award. It recognizes an individual or organization that has made especially significant or unique contributions to the conservation and/or knowledge of desert tortoises, or to achieving the goal and objectives of the Desert Tortoise Council over the long term.
Robert C. Stebbins Research Award: This award recognizes an individual who has an outstanding record of research, in any of a number of scientific disciplines, which contributes to the understanding of desert tortoises and/or desert ecosystems and their biota.
James A. St. Amant Special Award: This award recognizes an individual or organization that has made outstanding or unique contributions to the conservation of desert tortoises and/or the desert environment.
Glenn R. Stewart Service Award: This award recognizes a member of the Desert Tortoise Council or an organization that has demonstrated a continuing commitment to the goal and objectives of the Desert Tortoise Council and/or served with distinction in various roles.
Pat von Helf Recognition Award: This award is made in memory of Pat von Helf, a teacher and long‐serving Corresponding Secretary of the Desert Tortoise Council, to an individual or group that exemplifies Pat’s long‐term, humble service to the Desert Tortoise Council and/or dedication to the education of people of all ages about desert tortoises and/or the desert environment.
Awards History
2023 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Margaret Fusari |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Kenro Kusumi Greer Dolby |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Judy Hohman |
| Power of Persistence Award | Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee Ann McLuckie and Richard Fridell Debra Hughson |
2022 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Peter Woodman |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Brian D. Todd Tracey D. Tuberville Kurt A. Buhlmann |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Alice Karl Rachel Woodard TG Jackson Cynthia Furman Don Zdeba, Indian Wells Valley Water District Jason Lillion, Indian Wells Valley Water District |
| Power of Persistence Award | Jeff Aardahl |
| Implementation of Conservation Award | Kerry L. Holcomb |
2021 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Elliott R. Jacobson |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Conservation Science Partners |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Mari Quillman |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Greta Anderson and Cindi Tuell |
| Pat von Helf Recognition Award | Sarah Thomas, Conserve Southwest Utah |
2020 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Richard A. Spotts |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Santiago Sánchez-Ramírez |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Peter Woodman Anders G.J. Rhodin |
2019 |
|
| Conservation Award | Peter Paul van Dijk Anders G.J. Rhodin |
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Center for Biological Diversity Ileene Anderson Lisa Belenky Patrick Donnelly |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Kristina Drake, Team Leader |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Tortoise Group |
2018 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Jun Y. lee |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Coalition for a Balanced Environment and Ron Berger Chris Noddings |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Maggie Fusari Michael Burroughs Terry Christopher |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Kevin P. Mulder Andrew Walde William I. Boarman Peter Woodman Emily K. Latch Robert C. Fleischer |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Paul Delaney |
2017 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Ann M. McLuckie |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Eric Goode Judy Hohman Mari Quillman |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Bob Parker |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Scott Abella |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Tim Shields |
2016 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Jeff Aardahl |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Eric V. Goode |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Bianca Cirimele |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Taylor Edwards Alice Karl Mercy Vaughn Philip C. Rosen Cristina Melendez Torres Robert W. Murphy |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Joe Probst |
| Gilman Special Award | Dr. Taylor Edwards |
2015 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Ed LaRue |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Allan Muth |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | David Carr Molly Peters Par Singhaseni Bruce Garlinger Denise LaBerteaux Judy Hohman Ray Bransfield Larry LaPré |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Ken Nagy Lisa Hazard Christian Meienberger Devesh Vyas Danielle Shemanski Ian Wallis Brian Henen Phil Medica |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Mary Cohen |
2014 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Mike Bailey |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Dan Pearson Mojave Desert Land Trust Shelton Douthit Sean Daly Nancy Karl |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Phillip A. Medica |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | David Lamfrom |
2013 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Bruce Palmer |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Eric Goode Steven Schwarzbach |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | California Turtle &Tortoise Club William Donnan Paul Frank Ed LaRue Alice Karl Jacquelyn Smith Rachel Woodard |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Taylor Edwards |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Ray Butler |
2012 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Elliot R. Jacobsen |
| James A. St. Amant Special Award | Western Watersheds Project |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | G. Sidney Silliman |
| Pat Von Helf Recognition Award | Cheryl Pearson |
2011 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Becky Jones |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Scott R. Abella |
| Special Award | Wayne D. Spencer |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Mike Bailey Sean Daly Peter Woodman Bruce Palmer |
2010 |
|
| Kristin H. Berry Annual Award | Tracy Bailey |
| Robert C. Stebbins Research Award | Howard G. Wilshire Richard A. Minnich |
| Special Award | Richard Spotts BLM, Southern Nevada District Cristina Melendez Torres Comision De Ecologia Y Desarrollo Sustenable Del Estado De Sonora Volunteers of the NW Mexico Tortoise Project |
| Glenn R. Stewart Service Award | Douglas Duncan |
2009 |
|
| Annual Award | C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr. |
| Special Award | Zion National Park Town of Springdale, Utah |
| Service Award | Lori Rose |
2008 |
|
| Annual Award | Joe C. Truett |
| Research Award | Robert W. Murphy Kristin H. Berry Taylor Edwards Ann M. McLuckie |
| Special Award | California Desert Managers Group |
| Service Award | Edward L. LaRue Alice Karl Gilbert Goodlett Indian Wells Valley Water District Daniel C. Pearson Ray Butler |
2007 |
|
| Annual Award | Daniel Pearson |
| Research Award | Ken Nagy |
| Special Award | Brian Henen Scott Hillard Rhys Evans William Quillman Mark Hagen |
| Service Award | Michael P. Coffeen |
2006 |
|
| Annual Award | Douglas Duncan |
| Research Award | Valentine Lance |
| Special Award | Jeffrey Aardahl Mercy Vaughn |
| Service Award | Maggie Fusari Tom Egan |
2005 |
|
| Annual Award | Kristin H. Berry Glenn R. Stewart |
| Research Award | Olaf T. Oftedal |
| Special Award | Betty L. Burge Jun Y. Lee |
| Service Award | Doug Duncan Tracy Bailey Allan Muth |
2004 |
|
| Annual Award | Matthew Brooks |
| Special Award | Rhys Evans William Quillman Peter Woodman |
| Service Award | Cheryl Darnell Ed LaRue Justin Neighbor Pat von Helf Marc D. Graff |
2003 |
|
| Annual Award | Michael P. Coffeen |
| Research Award | Cecil R. Schwalbe |
| Special Award | Rebecca Jones Anders G. J. Rhodin Robert J. Turner |
| Service Award | Tim Duck Darlene Pond Ann McLuckie |
2002 |
|
| Annual Award | David J. Morafka |
| Research Award | Bruce L. Homer |
| Special Award | Tracy Y. Okamoto Jun Y. Lee |
2001 |
|
| Annual Award | Marc D. Graff |
| Research Award | Mary M. Christopher |
| Special Award | Roy C. Averill-Murray Michael J. Connor Center for Biological Diversity |
2000 |
|
| Annual Award | Ted Cordery |
| Special Award | Tim Duck |
| Research Award | Hal Avery, Kristin Berry, Bill Boarman, Leslie Defalco, Todd Esque, Jeff Lovich, Phil Medica Mary Brown, Elliott Jacobson, Bruce Homer, Dan Brown, Isabella Schumacher Olaf Oftedal, Terry Christopher Kurt Rautenstrauch, Danny Rakestraw, Pat Lederle Ken Nagy, Brian Henen |
| Conservation Award | Ray Bransfield Rick Fridell, Ann Mcluckie Mark Hagen, Wanda Deal Reed Harris, Bob Williams, Marilet Zablan, Ted Owens Bob Parker |
1999 |
|
| Annual Award | Frank Hoover |
| Special Award | Larry Foreman |
1998 |
|
| Annual Award | Ken Nagy |
| Special Award | Ed LaRue
Marc Sazaki |
1997 |
|
| Annual Award | Allan Muth |
| Special Award | Ed Lorentzen (BLM) |
| Certificate of Achievement | Vanessa Dickenson |
1996 |
|
| Annual Award | Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee |
| Special Award for URDS Research | Elliott R. Jacobson Paul Klein Isabella Schumacher Jack Gaskin Mary B. Brown Daniel R. Brown Hank Adams |
| Certificate of Accomplishment for Land Acquisition | Tom Egan Janet Eubanks Scott Eubanks Tom Gey |
| Certificate of Accomplishment for SymposiumSupport | Carolyn Kameen |
1995 |
|
| Annual Award | Mike Giusti |
| Service Award | Dan Pearson Mike Coffeen |
| Conservation Award | Desert Tortoise Recovery Team |
1994 |
|
| Annual Award | Matt Geyer Johanna Wald |
| Special Award | Tom Olson Terrie Correll Ed LaRue Dames And Moore |
| Certificate of Merit | Judy Hohman |
| 1993 | Annual Award | Tom Dodson |
| 1992 | Annual Award Special Achievement |
Richard Spotts California Energy Commission |
| 1991 | Annual Award | Southern California |
| 1990 | Annual Award | A. Stephen Johnson |
|
1989 |
Annual Award | Bureau of Land Management California Desert District |
|
1988 |
Annual Award | Evelyn L. St. Amant |
|
1987 |
Annual Award | Glenn Stewart |
|
1986 |
Annual Award | C. Kenneth Dodd |
|
1985 |
Annual Award | Martha Stout (Defenders of Wildlife) |
|
1984 |
Annual Award | Betty L. Burge |
|
1983 |
Annual Award | California Turtle and Tortoise Club |
|
1982 |
Annual Award | James A. St. Amant |
|
1981 |
Annual Award | Ross Hardy |
|
1980 |
Annual Award | Mary Trotter |
|
1979 |
Annual Award | The Nature Conservancy |
|
1978 |
Annual Award | Robert C. Stebbins |
|
1977 |
Annual Award | Kristin H. Berry |
|
1976 |
Annual Award | Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee |