The Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year Award, initiated in 1975, recognizes people who made outstanding efforts to protect natural resources in Sonoma County, directly or indirectly, or advanced their better stewardship.
The Ernestine I. Smith Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award, started in 1994, is granted to persons recognized by the SCCC as having devoted a major part of their lives working for the conservation and improvement of the natural environment. Additionally the SCCC has made awards for Young Environmentalist of the Year; for Outstanding Educators, Projects and Programs; and for Special Recognitions.
In 2016 the SCCC Board merged the Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year Award with the Ernestine I Smith Lifetime Environmental Commitment Award. This award is now called the Ernestine I. Smith Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year Award.
Ernie Smith was one of the key early Conservation Council leaders and a long-standing Sonoma County environmentalist. This award recognizes Ernie’s inspirational legacy, her generation of trail-blazing environmental leaders, and environmental trail-blazers of today.
Awards by Year
If you’re nominating an individual or group for an Environmental Award, be sure to search the list below to make sure they haven’t already been an awardee.
| Year | Awardees |
|---|---|
| Environmental Awards 2024 | |
| Environmental Awards 2023 | Galen Freed-Wilhelm, Kathy Pons, Margaret Briare, Norman Gilroy, Sonia Taylor, Tom Devlin |
| Environmental Awards 2022 | Deborah Eppstein, Judith Olney, Marylee Guinon, Willard Richards |
| Environmental Awards 2021 | Cea Higgins, Don McEnhill, Michele Luna, Richard Retecki |
| Environmental Awards 2020 | Chris Poehlmann, Duskie Estes, Jamie Nakama, Janina Turner, Maya Khosla, Rick Coates |
| Environmental Awards 2019 | Pat Eliot, Ted Eliot, Woody Hastings |
| Environmental Awards 2018 | Betty Young, Caitlin Cornwall, Chris Brokate |
| Environmental Awards 2017 | Teri Shore |
| Environmental Awards 2015 | Charles Stanley, Guy Connor, Kimberly Burr, Larry Hanson |
| Environmental Awards 2014 | Anne Teller, Stephen Fuller-Rowell, STRAW, Wendy Krupnick |
| Environmental Awards 2013 | Dennis Rosatti |
| Environmental Awards 2012 | Duane DeWitt, Nichole Warwick, Roger Raiche, Steve Birdlebough |
| Environmental Awards 2011 | Conservation Corps North Bay, John Herrick |
| Environmental Awards 2010 | Daily Acts, Jane Neilson, Trathen Heckman |
| Environmental Awards 2009 | Betty Burridge, Betty Guggholz, Cotati Creek Critters, David Keller, Jenny Blaker, Pachamama Alliance, Wade Belew |
| Environmental Awards 2008 | Brenda Adelman, Climate Protection Campaign, Cool Schools Program, Daisy Pistey-Lyhne, Iva Warner, Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy, Leadership Training for a Sustainable Future, Maitreyi Siriguri, Sonoma Academy Youth Program |
| Environmental Awards 2007 | Adventures in the Big Outdoors, Anne Hudgins, Bernie Album, City of Sebastopol Sustainability Program, In Our Own Backyard, Land Paths, Michael Teller, Sonoma County Conservation Action, Suzanne Doyle |
| Environmental Awards 2006 | Analy High School AP Statistics Class, Audubon Canyon Ranch, Bouverie Preserve Docents, Danny Bever, Dave Henson, Environmental Pilot Program, Jeff Tobes, Keith Kaulum, Madrone Audubon, Oak Grove Union School District, Peter Leveque, Phyllis Schmitt, Portia Sinnot, Russian River State Parks Environmental Education Program, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, The Student Commute Project, Tina Poles, Wendy Losee |
| Environmental Awards 2005 | Bonny Stene, Keith Kaulum, Ken Stocking, Marty Griffin, Pat Wiggins, Rue Furch |
| Environmental Awards 2004 | Ann Hancoock, Dave Casey, John Klobas, Peter Ashcroft |
| Environmental Awards 2003 | Ann Stroberger, Barbara Biebush, Fred Hall, Pavitra Crimmel |
| Environmental Awards 2002 | Krista McAtee, Margaret Pennington, Martha Bentley |
| Environmental Awards 2001 | Diane Hichwa, George Ellman, North Bay Science Project, Sharon Janulaw |
| Environmental Awards 2000 | Dick Day, Richard Day, Sharon Mansfield |
| Environmental Awards 1999 | Bill Kortum, David Neubacher, Marci Cook, Peeter Vilms |
| Environmental Awards 1998 | Christa Shaw, Chuck Rhinehart, Frances Tanti, Kathy Angell, Mike Heffernan |
| Environmental Awards 1997 | Jennifer Creeth, Len Swenson, Mark Green, Ron Head, Teresa Ramondo, Tom Furrer, United Anglers of Casa Grande High School |
| Environmental Awards 1996 | Anne Harris, Chris Peterson, Clark Nattkemper, Kathy Angell, Leslie Supan, Paula Fogarty, Sandra Elles |
| Environmental Awards 1995 | Barbara Meyn, Krista Rector |
| Environmental Awards 1994 | Ernestine Smith, Juliana Doms |
| Environmental Awards 1993 | Richard Charter |
| Environmental Awards 1992 | Dick Day, Richard Day |
| Environmental Awards 1991 | Joan Vilms |
| Environmental Awards 1990 | Elizabeth Eddins |
| Environmental Awards 1989 | Dee Swanhuyser |
| Environmental Awards 1988 | Helen Libeu |
| Environmental Awards 1987 | Brenda Adelman, Carol Vellutini |
| Environmental Awards 1986 | Bill Kortum, Lucy Kortum |
| Environmental Awards 1985 | David Thatcher, Len Swenson, Shirley Thatcher |
| Environmental Awards 1984 | Clark Nattkemper |
| Environmental Awards 1983 | Barbara Meyn |
| Environmental Awards 1982 | Joel Hedgpeth |
| Environmental Awards 1981 | Ken Stocking |
| Environmental Awards 1980 | Ernie Smith, Iva Warner, Martha Bentley |
| Environmental Awards 1979 | Virginia Hechtman |
| Environmental Awards 1978 | Chuck Rhinehart |
| Environmental Awards 1977 | John Crevelli |
| Environmental Awards 1975 | Chuck Hinkle, Jean Hinkle |