{"id":24951,"date":"2020-09-17T00:45:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T04:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marinesanctuary.org\/?page_id=24951"},"modified":"2025-01-22T11:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T16:38:25","slug":"ocean-awards-gala-honorees","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marinesanctuary.org\/capitol-hill-ocean-week-home-archive\/ocean-awards-gala-honorees\/","title":{"rendered":"Ocean Awards Gala Honorees"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ocean Awards Gala Honorees<\/h1>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation recognizes excellence in marine and Great Lakes conservation at its annual Ocean Awards Gala.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The <\/span>Leadership Award<\/b> honors political leaders who demonstrate a commitment to ocean, coastal and Great Lakes stewardship. Through their work on policy and governance, Leadership Award honorees elevate attention of the marine and Great Lakes environment through support of sound science and conservation.\u00a0 They champion change and action to protect these environments and their natural and cultural resources for future generations. Previous recipients have included President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Senator Ted Stevens.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Lifetime Achievement<\/b> Award <\/b>honors those whose work has exceptional impact on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes science, conservation, exploration, and\/or policy. Past recipients include Dr. Robert Ballard, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Adm. James D. Watkins, the Hon. Leon Panetta, and numerous other government leaders, academics, and conservationists.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Sanctuary Wavemaker Award<\/b> honors a National Marine Sanctuary System volunteer who has made outstanding contributions to their local national marine sanctuary. The recipient is chosen from the top honorees recognized each year by their individual sanctuaries across the entire National Marine Sanctuary System.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Conservation Innovation Award <\/b>recognizes a company or foundation for their significant contributions to marine and Great Lakes conservation and the protection of natural and cultural resources through the support of sound science, exploration, policy-making, advocacy, and\/or innovative partnerships.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Past Gala Honorees” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30px|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1554837764813{margin-bottom: -50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1551979660906{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”24955″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]2024:<\/p>\n

Leadership Award: Chair Brenda Mallory<\/p>\n

Sanctuary Wavemaker Award: Violet Sage Walker and Chief Fred Collins<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Conservation Innovation Award: National Geographic Pristine Ses<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2023:<\/p>\n

Leadership Award: Congressman Ra\u00fal Grijalva of Arizona and Congressman Ed Case of Hawai\u2019i<\/span><\/p>\n

Sanctuary Wavemaker Award:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Solomon Pili\u00a0<\/span>Kaho\u02bbohalahala<\/span>\u00a0and William J.\u00a0<\/span>Ail\u0101<\/span>\u00a0Jr.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2022:<\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Marcia McNutt<\/span><\/p>\n

Sanctuary Wavemaker Award: Diving with a Purpose<\/p>\n

Conservation Innovation Award: Eric and Wendy Schmidt and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, 11th Hour Racing, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and the Schmidt Family Foundation<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2019:<\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Nancy Knowlton<\/span><\/p>\n

Sanctuary Wavemaker Award: Francesca Koe, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary<\/p>\n

Conservation Innovation Award: Walton Family Foundation<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2018:<\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Gordon and Betty Moore<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Will Benson, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary<\/p>\n

Conservation Innovation Award: BBC<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2017:<\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. Representative, Oregon<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger and Vicki Sant<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Kevin Powers, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary<\/p>\n

Conservation Innovation Award: Esri<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2016:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator, Washington<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Nainoa Thompson<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Captain Scott Hickman, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2015:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: President & Mrs. George W. Bush<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Jeremy Jackson<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Richard Matzinger, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2014:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Carl Levin, U.S. Senator, Michigan<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Honorable William Ruckelshaus & The Honorable Norman Mineta<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Robyn Walters, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2013:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator, Rhode Island<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Jane Lubchenco<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Paul Petrich, Jr., Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2012:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: President Bill Clinton<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Captain Don Walsh, USN (Ret)<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Ron Armonath, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

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2011:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Ted Stevens, U.S. Senator, Alaska<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Wolcott Henry<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Randy Rudd, Gray\u2019s Reef National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2010:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Lois Capps, U.S. Representative, California; The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, U.S. Representative, Florida<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Julie Packard<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Steve Kroll, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2009:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Delegate to the House of Representatives, Guam<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Robert Ballard<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Josh Churchman, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2008:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives; The Honorable Barbara Mikulski, U.S. Senator, Maryland<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Coutseau<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Mary Cantini, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2007:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Lynn Woolsey, U.S. Representative, California<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Robert M. White<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Brian Dively, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

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2006:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Judd Gregg, U.S. Senator, New Hampshire; The Honorable Norm Dicks, U.S. Representative, Washington;<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: Adm. James D. Watkins, The Honorable Leon Panetta<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Linda Paul, Papahanamokuakea Marine National Monument<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2005:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Daniel Inouye, U.S. Senator, Hawaii; The Honorable Vernon Ehlers, U.S. Representative, Michigan; The Honorable Wayne Gilchrest, U.S. Representative, Maryland<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Honorable Lowell Weicker, Governor and U.S. Senator, Connecticut<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Kimokeo Kapahulehua, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2004:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Olympia Snowe, U.S. Senator, Maine; The Honorable Tom Allen, U.S. Representative, Maine; The Honorable Sam Farr, U.S. Representative, California; The Honorable Jim Greenwood, U.S. Representative, Pennsylvania; The Honorable Curt Weldon, U.S. Representative, Pennsylvania.<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Stephanie Harlan, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2003:<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership Award: The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings, U.S. Senator, South Carolina; The Honorable Jim Saxton, U.S. Representative, New Jersey<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer of the Year: Gordon Bennett, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Questions or Comments?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30px|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]For more information about Capitol Hill Ocean Week, please contact us at<\/span><\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/span>conference@marinesanctuary.org<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u202f<\/span><\/span>For sponsorship opportunities, please contact<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>development@marinesanctuary.org.<\/span><\/span><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Past Gala Honorees” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30px|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1554837764813{margin-bottom: -50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1551979660906{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”24955″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]2024: Leadership Award: Chair Brenda Mallory Sanctuary Wavemaker Award: Violet Sage Walker and Chief Fred Collins Conservation Innovation Award: National Geographic Pristine Ses   2023: Leadership Award: Congressman Ra\u00fal Grijalva of Arizona and Congressman Ed Case of Hawai\u2019i Sanctuary… View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":696978,"featured_media":0,"parent":24889,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-24951","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOcean Awards Gala Honorees | National Marine Sanctuary Foundation<\/title>\n<meta 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