NCTA Annual Awards

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General Info

You can help us recognize outstanding volunteers. It's easy!

You probably know who has worked steadily this past year or longer in your region or state. Here's a chance to be sure that they get the recognition they deserve, and that we will all get to know these trail heroes. Please look over the list of awards regularly given, and past recipients. Perhaps a name which should be on one of those lists will jump to your mind. Take a minute to click on the link below to an on-line nomination form, and let Headquarters know your thoughts.

Nominations for 2006 NCTA Annual Awards are due in June 2006. Any current NCTA member may nominate someone for an award. The nominees themselves need not be current members of the NCTA.

Nominate a volunteer

this page updated 5/08/08

Criteria and Past Award Recipients

VANGUARD AWARD

Theme: Legislator or public servant
Number per year: up to 2
Criteria: A legislator or other public official whose leadership, actions and advocacy have substantially benefited the North Country Trail.
Presentation: Preferably at a public event by an official of the NCTA

2000 Senator Herb Kohl (WI), Representative David Obey (WI)
2001 Senator Carl Levin (MI), Representative Ralph Regula
2002 Representative Vern Ehlers (MI)
2003 Steve Peterson, Superintendent of the Brule River State Forest in Wisconsin.
2004 Representative Phil English (PA)
2005 Senator Gaylord Nelson (WI)
2006 Robert Hoffman (MN), Land Commisioner, Hubbard County, Minnesota
2006 Ray Vlasak (MN), Supervisor, Forest Township, Becker County, Minnesota
2007 James Oberstar (MN), US Congressman
2007 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN)

FRIEND OF THE TRAIL

Theme: Employee of a partner agency or organization
Number per year: up to 2
Criteria: An employee of a unit of government or an organization whose leadership, accommodation and active collaboration have substantially benefited theNorth Country Trail.
Presentation: at the NCTA Annual Conference

2004 Ramona Venegas (MI), Huron-Manistee National Forest
2004 Scott Tichy (ND), Corps of Engineers
2005 Dorian Grilley (MN), Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota
2005 Mark Carlstrom (MN), Minnesota DNR
2006 Ron Kantola (MI), Ottawa National Forest
2006 Wally Chappel (MI), Grand Traverse Nature Reserve
2007 Harvey Tjader (MN), DNR Forester
2007 Kent Goeckerman (WI), Copper Falls State Park

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Theme: Significant commitment and accomplishments over ten or more years
Number per year: 1
Criteria: An individual, in recognition of more than a decade of true dedication, exceptional service and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Service may be performed in a voluntary or paid capacity. Presentation: At the Annual Conference

1997 Tom Gilbert (NPS)
1998 Derek Blount (MI)
1999 Emily Gregor (OH)
2000 Wes Boyd (MI)
2001 Howard Beye (NY)
2002 Rod MacRae (MN)
2003 Jim Sprague (OH)
2004 Gene Elzinga (MI)
2005 Gaylord Yost (MN)
2006 Dave Cornell (MI)
2007 Jahn Leinen (MN)

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Theme: Significant commitment and accomplishments over three or more years
Number per year: 1-3
Criteria: An individual, in recognition of exceptional volunteer service in furthering the goals of the NCTA, and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Not more than one of these awards may be granted each year to an individual who is not a member of the NCTA or an Affiliate.
Presentation: At the Annual Conference

1988 Wallace Doan
1989 Barbara A. Smith (PA)
1989 John G. Hipps (PA)
1990 Ken Gackler
1990 Ginny Wunsch (MI)
1991 Derek Blount (MI)
1991 Tom Reimers (NY)
1992 Art Holland
1992 Vince Smith (MI)
1993 Linda Mieke
1994 Rod MacRae (MN)
1994 Gene Elzinga (MI)
1995 Baird Stewart
1996 Merrill C. Gilfillan
1996 Wes Boyd (MI)
1997 Arden Johnson (MI)
1997 Jim Sprague (OH)
1997 Gaylord Yost (WI)
1998 Howard Beye (NY)
1998 Pat Allen (MI)
1999 Bob Tait (PA)
1999 Dave Cornell (MI)
2000 Martha Jones (MI)
2000 Doug Welker (MI)
2001 John Leinen (MN)
2001 Joan Young (MI)
2002 Werner Veit (MI)
2003 Al Larmann (NY)
2003 Mary Kunzler-Larmann (NY)
2004 Bill Menke (WI)
2004 Irene Szabo (NY)
2004 Arlen Matson (MI)
2005 Bill Coffin (NY)
2005 Jim Burow (WI)
2005 Pat Leinen (MN)
2006 Garry Dill (OH)
2006 Ron Rice (PA)
2006 Dick Lightcap (NY)
2007 Alicia Hoffarth (ND)
2007 Bob Norlin (WI)

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Theme: Corporation or Foundation contributor
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A business or foundation for far-sighted vision and support, demonstrated by significant contribution(s) to the NCT or the NCTA.
Presentation: Preferably at a public event by an official of the NCTA

2000 R.E.I.
2001 Haworth, Inc. (MI)
2002 No nominations
2003 Meritex Corporation (PA)
2004 No nominations
2005 Lowell Community Fund (MI)
2006 Cemex (PA)
2007 Superior Publishing Corporation (WI)

TRAIL BUILDER OF THE YEAR

Theme: Trail or facilities construction
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, whose work in NCT construction, planning, or negotiations have resulted in the development of outstanding new trail or facilities over the past year.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Al Larmann and Mary Kunzler-Larmann (as a team) (NY)
2002 Ron Rice (PA)
2003 Paul Haan(MI)
2003 Dick Napperala (MI)
2005 Carter Hedeen (MN)
2006 Rick Adamson (OH)
2007 Lynda Rummel (NY)

TRAIL MAINTAINER OF THE YEAR

Theme: Trail or facilities maintenance
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, who has demonstrated exceptional dedication or achievements over the past year in maintaining or restoring pre-existing North Country Trail segment(s).
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Rolf Swanson (WI)
2002 Al Mitton (MN)
2003 Tom Learmont (MI)
2004 Eric Doyle (MI)
2005 Rich Krieger (MI)
2006 Keith Klos (PA)
2007 Mikie Kuhman (WI)

LEADERSHIP AWARD

Theme: Leadership
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership leading to significant local achievements or highly successful events.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Peter Nordgren (WI)
2002 No nominations received
2003 Gail Blakeley (PA)
2004 Jerry Trout (MN)
2005 Peggy Jones (MI)
2006 Greg Wisniewski (OH)
2007 John Heiam (MI)

OUTREACH AWARD

Theme: Building support and partnerships
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, whose efforts to build coalitions, partnerships or other forms of local support have contributed significantly to the ongoing success of the North Country Trail.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Paula Wilbur (MI)
2002 Richard Lutz (PA)
2003 Dave Cornell (MI)
2004 Al Larmann (NY)
2005 Andy Skurka (MA)
2006 Bob McCafferty (PA)
2007 Kay Kujava (MI)

COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Theme: Communications or Promotion
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, for exemplary work in promoting the North Country Trail or the NCTA through a communications medium (newsletter, website, brochure, etc.) or personal contacts.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Werner Veit (MI)
2002 Angela Addington (MI)
2003 not awarded
2004 Aaron and Sharon Phipps (MI)
2005 Ginny Ruppe (MN)
2006 Joan Young (MI)
2007 Mick Hawkins (MI)

CHAPTER/AFFILIATE HONOR AWARD

Theme: Chapter/Affiliate
Number per year: 1
Criteria: Chapter or Affiliate volunteers who demonstrate loyalty, commitment, and hard work annually to the local organizations chosen activities.
Presentation: Awards made by the Board for the Chapter/ Affiliate Honor Award will be read at the annual conference but presented by Chapter or Affiliate officers at meetings they schedule in their local areas.

RISING STAR AWARD

Theme: Youth
Number per year: 1
Criteria: A volunteer between the ages of 8 and 18, who has made significant contributions to the North Country Trail, and whose dedication to the NCT and the NCTA sets an example to other youths and shows exceptional promise.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Ben Mourer (PA)
2002 no nominations received
2003 Gillian Kreft (PA)
2004 no nominations received
2005 Stratton Lucas (WI)
2006 no nominations received
2007 no nominations received

SWEEP AWARD

Theme: Working behind the scenes
Number presented: 1
Criteria: A volunteer, for tireless work and achievements behind the scenes on behalf of the North Country Trail or the NCTA.
Presentation: Announced at NCTA Annual Conference

2001 Brooks Kindel (MI)
2002 Len and JoAnne Baron (MI)
2003 Harlan Lilljequist (MN)
2004 Atley Oswald (WI)
2005 Char Chandler (MI)
2006 Peter Edmunds (WI)
2007 Deb Krieger (MI)

BLUE BLAZES BENEFACTOR

Theme: Significant financial contribution to the NCTA
Presentation: at the NCTA Annual Conference

2004 Werner and Marianne Veit (MI)
2005 Byron and Margaret Hutchins
2007 not awarded

BUMP IN THE ROAD

Theme: perserverance
Criteria: Overcoming unseen "bumps in the road" in furthering the cause of the NCTA
Presentation: this is a traveling award given at the NCTA Annual Conference

2005 NCTA Headquarters
2006 Allegheny National Forest Chapter (PA)
2007 NCTA Headquarters

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