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Awards and Honorees

Volunteer of the Year for 2007 Winner Hunter Kilpatrick with (from left): Jean-Michel Cousteau, Robert Ballard, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Hunter

Over the years, a variety of awards have been presented to outstanding individuals and organizations that support our mission of understanding and protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Below is a list of the different awards as well as links for information about the honorees.

Volunteer of the Year

Our efforts to protect the Sanctuary would not be nearly as successful without our volunteers who devote their time and effort to this cause. Some of our volunteers go above and beyond the call of duty and deserve extra recognition for their work. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Volunteer of the Year Award is our way of saying thank you to these volunteers who take time out of their lives to make the Sanctuary a better place. The Volunteer of the Year dedicates enormous amounts of time to further the mission of the sanctuary, and is often involved in a variety of sanctuary programs. These people are committed to protecting the sanctuary and are amazing examples of stewardship of our natural resources.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Annual Currents Awards

Beginning in 1993, in collaboration with the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, and in celebration of the first anniversary of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a series of awards were presented to people and organizations who contributed significantly to the development of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. These awards were given for education, conservation, research, scientific, political, and public involvement.

Ricketts Award

The Ed Ricketts Memorial Lecture was created to honor people who have exhibited exemplary work throughout their career and advanced the status of knowledge in the field of marine science. The first award was presented in March of 1986 at a conference organized by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Recipients are selected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Research Activity Panel.

Sanctuary Currents Symposium Research Poster Awards

Every year the MBNMS presents awards for outstanding research posters at the Sanctuary Currents Symposium.

NOAA Environmental Heroes

Since 1996 NOAA has recognized individuals and organizations throughout the United States for their "tireless efforts to preserve and protect the nation's environment." Periodically these Environmental Heroes have been nominated by the MBNMS.

Reviewed: September 08, 2023
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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