North Country Trail Association

Volunteer Award Recipients

Each year, the NCTA honors volunteers for their hard work on and for the North Country Trail.

The awards ceremony is held each year during the annual NCTA Celebration. Those who receive these awards have given exceptional service, often many years’ worth, to the North Country Trail and the North Country Trail Association. There are diverse award categories to represent the myriad of efforts put forth for the Trail.

Thomas L. Gilbert Lifetime Achievement
Tom Gilbert (1997), Derek Blount (1998), Emily Gregor (1999), Wes Boyd (2000), Howard Beye (2001), Rod MacRae (2002), Jim Sprague (2003), Gene Elzinga (2004), Gaylord Yost (2005), Dave Cornell (2006), John Leinen (2007), Bill Menke (2008), Al Larmann (2009), Ed Sidote (2010), Arlen Matson (2011), Irene Szabo (2012), Mary Coffin, Joan Young (2013), Harlan Liljequist (2014), Doug Welker (2015), Ray Vlasak (2016), Bobby Koepplin, Larry Hawkins, Jerry Trout (2017), Paul Haan, Tom Reimers, Marty Swank (2018), David Brewer, Peter Nordgren, Stan and Kay Kujawa (2019), Lorana Jinkerson, Tom Moberg, Ed Solstad (2020), Mike Stafford, Richard Naperala, Mick Hawkins (2021), John Elliott, Carter and Florence Hedeen, Herb and Susie Hulls (2022), Dennis Garrett, Linda and Bruce Johnson, John Derick (2023)
Distinguished Service
Wallace Doan (1988), Barbara A. Smith, John G. Hipps (1989), Ken Gackler, Ginny Wunsch (1990), Derek Blount, Tom Reimers (1991) Art Holland, Vince Smith (1992), Linda Mieke (1993), Rod MacRae, Gene Elzinga (1994), Baird Stewart (1995), Merrill C. Gilfillan, Wes Boyd (1996), Arden Johnson, Jim Sprague, Gaylord Yost (1997), Howard Beye, Pat Allen (1998), Bob Tait, Dave Cornell (1999), Martha Jones, Doug Welker (2000), John Leinen, Joan Young (2001), Werner Veit (2002), Al Larmann, Mary Kunzler Larmann (2003), Irene Szabo, Bill Menke, Arlen Matson (2004), Bill Coffin, Jim Burow, Pat Leinen (2005), Garry Dill, Dick Lightcap, Ron Rice (2006), Alicia Hoffarth, Bob Norlin (2007), Bobby Koepplin, Rick Adamson, Herb and Suzie Hulls (2008), Tim Calloway, Tana Turonie, Mary Coffin (2009), Kathy Eisele, Stan Kujawa, Lynne Nason (2010), Pat and Mary Hayes, Ed Solstad, Marty Swank (2011), Mick Hawkins, Lorana Jinkerson, Ron Sootsman (2012), Mike Stafford, Joe Smith, Dick Naperala (2013), Joyce Appel, Peter Nordgren, Larry Hawkins (2014), Ed Chappel, Deb Koepplin, Lynda Rummel (2015), Jerry Allen, Tom Moberg, Chuck Zosel (2016), Becky Heise, Chuck Vannette, Dave Brewer (2017), Kay Kujawa, Tim Mobray, Larry Pio (2018), Eileen Fairbrother, Dennis Garrett, Ed Bowen (2019), Mark VanHornweder, Joe Hardisky, Phil Anderson (2020), Bruce Johnson, Richard Lutz, Connie Julien (2021), Terry Bernhardt, Betsy Duede, Jaron Nyhof, Mike Schaeffer, Stephen Walker (2022), Dave Adams, Bruce Dziadzio, Jane Norton, Richard Ostheimer, John Pearson (2023)
Blue Blazes Benefactor
Werner and Marianne Veit (2004), Byron and Margaret Hutchins (2005), Walter Srogi (2007), Harmon Strong (2008), Peggy McRae (2009), Jim Weiske (2010), Garry Dill (2011), Jack Cohen (2012), Dave and Jan Cornell (2013), William Lynch and Barbara Manger of Lynch & Lux Foundation (2014), Susan Yee (2015), Bethany Thomas (2016), Ron Horn, Lorana Jinkerson (2017), Tom and Mary Moberg, Helen Brooks (2018), Roger and Whitney Bagnall (2019), Cecil Dobbins, Cheryl and Mark Kreindler (2020), Jerry and Nancy Fennell, Larry Bell, Jan Ulferts Stewart and Jim Stewart (2021), Loren Bach and Dave Martus, Jim and Eleanor Mitton (2022), Larry Pio and Suzanne Darling (2023)
Outstanding Private Landowner
Randy Lehman (2011), Dennis Garrett (2012), Scott Holman (2013), Tom Lakenen, Doug and Pam Boor (2014), Scott Bowen (2015), Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (2016), Joe Dabes (2017), Ron and Grace Hutchinson (2018), Tara East of Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, and Mines & Meadows ATV/RV Resort (2019), Sasha Ospina, Circle Pines Center (2020), David and Geraldine Wregge, Marlys Groff (2021), Edwards Family, Heath-Kudelka Family (2022), Tony Keiser (2023)
Vanguard
Sen. Herb Kohl, Rep. David Obey (2000), Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Ralph Regula (2001), Rep. Vern Ehlers (2002), Steve Peterson (2003), Rep. Phil English (2004), Gaylord Nelson (2005), Robert Hoffman, Ray Vlasak (2006), MN DNR, Rep. Oberstar (2007), Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Hank Ludtke (2009), Steve Bade, Tom Schackman, Mitch Bouchonville (2010), Rep. Tom Petri, Gretchen Cicora (2012), Rep. Richard M. Nolan, Carolyn Upton, Ray Burpo (2014), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Dan Watson (2015), Matthew Gardner (2016), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (2017), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (2018), Dakota Hewlett, Will Mitchell (2019), Dan Vogler (2020), Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Parks and Recreation Management, M. Benois Walton (2021), Mary Mertz, Ohio DNR (2022), Andrea Gue, Scott Healy, Linda White (2023)
Friend of the Trail
Ramona Venegas, Scott Tichy (2004), Dorian Grilley, Mark Carlstrom (2005), Wally Chappel, Ron Kantola (2006), Kent Goeckermann, Harvey Tjader (2007), Peter Frank, Jim Sessions: U.S. Forest Service Allegheny National Forest (2008), Kevin Stankiewicz, John Kwapinski (2009), Barbara Boyle, Karen Larsen (2010), Bob Christensen, Scott Peterson (2011), Melanie Fullman, Andru Jevicks (2012), Butler County (PA) Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau, Dan Bickel (2013), Grand Marais, MI Chamber of Commerce, Cindy Schwehr (2014), Dave Jaunese, Neil Woodworth (2015), Matt Rowbotham, Gary Werner (2016), Craig Krepps, Mary Lee Nielson, Greg Owens (2017), Andy Zepp, Kris West and Zachary Odell of Finger Lakes Land Trust, Jamie Lowe of U.S. Forest Service, MN, Tyler Modin of Fort Ransom State Park, ND (2018), Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Colleen Lynema, Jane Anklam (2019), Denny Caneff, Jack Norland, Richard Lutz (2020), Eric Peterson, Greg Bernu, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Staff (2021), Tammy Cefalu – USFS Minnesota, Aaron Gaither – USFS North Dakota, Jennifer Flynn – SEEDS EcoCorps (2022), Constance Cox, Josh Clague, Kenneth Kettler, Lenny Krueger, Renee Penny (2023)
Trail Protector
Tom Podlesny (2022)
Trail Blazer
REI (2000), Haworth, Inc. (2001), Lowell Area Community Foundation (2005), Cemex, Inc. (2006), Superior Publishing Corporation (2007), Scheel Sports (2008), Chuck McCready (2009), Itasca County Trails Task Force, Blandin Foundation (2010), Midwest Mountaineering (2011), W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest (2012), Colcom Foundation (2013), Plum Creek Timber Co. (2014), Consumers Energy (2015), Doosan Bobcat (2016), John Woollam Foundation (2017), Butler County (PA) Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau (2018), Mandy Huskey, Gunflint Lodge; Joe DeMuzio; REI Foundation (2020), Andrew Schlegal (2021), Chad Petersen – KLJ Engineering (2022), Kalkaska Downtown Development Authority, SPAX Engineered Fasteners, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. (2023)
Communicator
Werner Veit (2001), Angela Addington (2002), Aaron and Sharon Phipps (2004), Ginny Ruppe (2005), Joan Young (2006), Mick Hawkins (2007), Jo Taylor (2008), Lorana Jinkerson (2009), Irene Szabo (2010), Eileen Fairbrother (2011), Mary Rebert (2012), Becky Heise (2013), Susan C. Hauser, Linda Johnson (2014), Roger Hopkins (2015), Beth Keloneva (2016), Marty Swank, Kevin Smith, Marilyn Hoogstraten (2017), Charles Chandler, Bob Cooley (2018), Matthew Edmonds, Robert Haack, Tracy Hager (2019), Tina Harkins, Mary Brinks (2020), Janice Kessler (2021), Marty Anderson, James Falk (2022), Andrew Kovatch, Derek Lamparty (2023)
Outreach
Paula Wilbur (2001), Richard Lutz (2002), Dave Cornell (2003), Al Larmann (2004), Andrea Skurka (2005), Bob McCafferty (2006), Kay Kujawa (2007), Pat Monahan (2008), Tom Garnett (2009), Brian Pavek (2010), John Stehle (2011), Larry Pio (2012), Todd McMahon (2013), Phil Nimps (2014), Mary Rebert (2015), Bruce Johnson (2016), Jane Norton, Jerry Warner, John and Dove Day (2017), Mike Wilkey, Gail Rogne, Eileen Fairbrother (2018), Debra Nero, Tom Dahle, Sam Bonifas (2019), Marianne Duvendack, Carol Wright, Mark Heise (2020), Julie Fromm, Eric Longman, JoEllen Sokoloski (2021), Arlene Steimle, Sr. Lyn Szymkiewicz, Patty Warner (2022), Ruth Dorrough (2023)
Boots on the Trail
Jennifer Catney, Marge Forslin, Chuck Hayden (2017), Bobbi Jo Gamache, Rennae Gruchalla, John Rarick (2018), Donna Noteware, Jim Gilkey, Zach Johns (2019), Jeff Landon, Mark Roberts (2020), Sara Balbin and Jackie Kruse, Teresa Nelson, Robert Courtois (2021), Nikki Sobell, Yvette Jester, Jay Shutt (2022), Steve Coz, Matt Patterson (2023)
Sweep
Brooks Kindel (2001), Len and JoAnne Baron (2002), Harlan Liljequist (2003), Atley Oswald (2004), Char Chandler (2005), Peter Edmunds (2006), Deb Kreiger (2007), Ed Ronkowski, Becky Heise, Peter Wybron (200*), Stacy Scheel, Harvey Johnson, Florence Hedeen (2009), Barb Pavek, Mike Trieschmann (2010), Marge Forslin, Karen Klos, Don Penly (2011), Laura DeGolier, Mahlon Hurst, Charles Krammin (2012), Larry Blumberg, Diane Winston, Paul Henry (2013), Ken Rugaber, Paul Johnson, Jarret Lobb (2014), Robert Leedle, John Pearson, Jacqui Wensich (2015), Steve Catherman, Mary Moberg, Gary Johnson (2016), JoAnn Pearson, Karen Stenberg, Steve Webster (2017), Rita Oswald, Michael Schlicht, David Wright (2018), JoEllen Sokoloski, Robert Stein, Vickie Swank (2019), Mary Berube and John Schrock, Rick and Sher Eiler (2020), Bob Cooley, Darlene Warren, John Fomusa (2021), Ed Gruchalla, Erik Morris, Mike Ward (2022), Nicole Halgrimson, Michael Loscheider, Ellie Williams (2023)
Trail Builder
Al Larmann, Mary Kunzler-Larmann (2001), Ron Rice (2002), Paul Haan (2003), RIchard Naperala (2004), Carter Hedeen (2005), Rick Adamson (2006), Lynda Rummel (2007), Scott Bowman (2008), Charlie Krammin (2009), Daryl Heise (2010), Chris Hoffarth, Bruce Johnson, Keith Klos (2011), Dave Brewer, Dick Kroener, Ed Morse (2012), Tom Moberg, Joe Hardisky (2013), Bobby Koepplin, Dennis Garrett, Ron Navik (2014), Marty Howden, Larry Meyer, Ron Sootsman (2015), Matt Branneman, Jeff Fleming, Gary Narum (2016), Tony Orsini, Bob McNamara, Jim Charvat (2017), Tom Hicks, Pat McNamara, Ed Scurry (2018), Matt Williams, Michael Schlicht, Jim Bradley (2019), Richard Ostheimer, Byron Guy (2020), Duane Lawton, Jamie Guy, Derrick Passe, Jack Miller, Bob and Jane Leedle (2021), James Howell (2022), Steve Kinne, Dave Miller, William Smith, Thursday Morning Cook Forest Crew (2023)
Trail Maintainer
Rolf Swanson (2001), Al Mitton (2002), Tom Learmont (2003), Eric Doyle (2004), Richard Krieger (2005), Keith Klos (2006), Mikie Muhman (2007), Jerry Werner (2008), Ed Chappel (2009), Cliff Stammer (2010), Clyde Anderson, Steve Kinne, John Pearson (2011), Katie Jo Blau, Ed Bowen, Lynda Rummel (2012), Dave Galbreath, Tony Rodriguez, Ronald Lyndquist, Ed Scurry (2013), Rich and Judy Ferguson, Phil Anderson, Warren Irle (2014), Jim Belote, Connie Julien, Dave Potzler (2015), Dave Adams, Dick Kroener, Jerry McCarty (2016), Chris Hoffarth, Reginald and Lucia Krueger, Phil Nimps (2017), Mel Baughman, Daryl Heise, Barb Isom (2018), Jim and Norma Matteson, Scott Sellers, Steve Hicks (2019), Bill Courtois, Cal Kangas, Doug Lawrence and Kathy Rea, Frank Lynn (2020), Chuck Church, Brian and Deb Charleson, Jerry Marek, Lawrence Eisinger, Joe Kravetz (2021), Jim Antonson, Preston Bartlett, Chuck Hoard, Dave Jansen, Dan Proctor (2022), Dan Dueweke, Dan Geiger, John Pitale, Jim Shinners, Glen Waisanen (2023)
Leadership
Peter Nordgren (2001), Gail Blakeley (2003), Jerry Trout (2004), Peggy Jones (2005), Greg Wisniewski (2006), John Heiam (2007), Marty Swank (2008), Ray Vlasak (2009), Annette Brzezicki (2010), Lee Fairbanks (2011), Joyce Appel (2012), Tim Hass (2013), Charlene DeWitt (2014), Florence Hedeen (2015), Duane Lawton (2016), Dennis Garrett, Mike Stafford, Sara Cockrell (2017), Loren Bach, Eric Longman, Dave Newman (2018), Andy Mytys, Cal and Jean Lamoreaux, Mary Campbell (2019), Beth Keloneva, Shari Sanderson, Brian Hager (2020), Brad Slagle, Michael Sekely, Carol Wright (2021), Gerry Berg, Eric Campbell, Kevin Schram (2022), Lynn Meister Thomas, Deb Nero, Glee Mayer and Mark Zimmerman (2023)
Rising Star
Lynnae Branham, Marisa Hoffarth, and Austin Horning (2020), Jake Deal, Chase Gregory, Connor and Trevan Pfennig (2021), BSA Troop 123, North Dakota (2023)
2022 Honor Awards
Doug Mangold, Katie Prindle, Kevin Mackie, Jean Adams, Mark Zimmerman, Julia Waggoner, Chris Sherman, Jason Gilbert, Jane Norton, Sandra Craig, Jan Ulferts Stewart and Jim Stewart, John Gerty, Jeff Mellgren, Stan and Kay Kujawa, Mark Evans, Doug Seaney, Stephanie Hogan, Nancy Kreft, Deb Fergus, Marjorie Krumm, Connie Geinert, Michael Wheeler, Kim Fishburn, Dan Geiger, Paul Bush, Dennis Garrett, Tina Reecer, Deena Reisman, Ann Furste, Chaz Gallet

National Park Service Awards

The following volunteers are recognized for cumulative hour milestones reached in 2023.

10,000 Hours
David Brewer
4,000 Hours
Michael Stafford, Dave Adams
2,500 Hours
Kevin Schram, Carol Wright, John Texter, Mike Shaeffer, Eric Longman
1,000 Hours
 Peter Bennett, Nancy Kreft, Tim Calloway, Lynn Meister Thomas, Mark Zimmerman, Michael Loscheider, Bradford Slagle, Karl Jensen, Jim Bronson, 
400 Hours
Cheryl McGrath, Gary Rhoades, Jeff Meligren, Doug Mangold, John Pitale, Alrene Pitale, Nathyn Thompson, Michelle Lackey Olsen, Daniel Geiger, James Howell, Shawn Weishaar, Eric Maturi, Brad Stewart, Nicole Halgrimson, Jim Lindberg, Ryan Bowles, John Gerty, Dan Campbell, Stephen Bielke, Patricia Bielke, Brian Loutzenhiser, Mark King, Joe Torok, Randy Thomas, Daniel Raish, Scott Parker, Tom Harris, Ed Ranson, Jean Adams, Keith Sproul
200 Hours
Robert Becklund, Yvette Jester, Richard Vehe, Lynda Chudy, Felicia Hokenstad, Angelia Clarke, Bruce Pierson, David Olsen, Ruth Perino, Konstantin Pokrovski, Stacy Strand, Teresa Nelson, Jim DeKett, James Smart, David Peterson, Cathryn Flory, James Fogarty, Ethel Resh, John Diebel, Donald Quick, Nathan Miller, Tom Snyder, Jerry Fitzgerald, Timothy Bauer, Gaylan Mathiesen, Rebecca Beach, Jerome Lemke, Clinton Warner, JoAnn Mort, Deborah Fergus, Jim Shinners, Heidi Hoppe, Gregg Lewis, William lallman, Joshua Gary, Deb Mattes, Katie Prindle, Jon Maturi, Tom Carter, Pam Myers, Kim Gustafson
100 Hours
Leslie Askwith, Brian Batchelder, Mark Belknap, Gerry Berg, Ryan Blaisdell, Denny Caneff, George Dahm, Nancy DeJong, John DeSautelle, Connie DeSautelle, Amy Elvey, Kristi Evans, Dave Fay, Charles Gallet, Ken Garness, Ginny Garness, Jan Genaway, Sylvia Grisez, Stephanie Hoff, Ava Hoff, David Jansen, Beth Kaszynski, Robert Laing, Crystal Lawrence, Jeff Manelick, James Marrs, Michael Mattson, Phil McDowell, Brett Mort, Janice Mueller, Christine Olson, Joel Oravitz, Jim Penley, Bill Rokos, Robert Rosati, Zoe Rudisill, Melissa Santani, Eric Schooley, Steve Sharkey, Stephanie Sleda, Chuck Thomas, Shelly Thomspon, Bruse Ueland, Kathleen Vermaat, Christopher Whitsel, Sam Zembrado