Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s Annual Conservation Achievement Awards
RECOGNIZING
EXCELLENCE
Want to Sponsor this year's Banquet?
Tickets available for the 58th Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet.
Date: April 12, 2024
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm Cocktail Reception, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Dinner and Awards Presentation
Location: Boudreaux's Catering - 2647 Government St, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Individual Ticket: $75
Table of 8: $600
We are excited to announce that this year’s Master of Ceremonies will be Rob Shadoin, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Join us for this memorable event and help us celebrate our conservation Champions.
Conservationist of the Year for 2023 – Alexander Kolker, Ph.D.
Professional Conservationist of the Year for 2023 – Corey Miller
Volunteer Conservationist of the Year for 2023 – Jim Kolinski
Conservation Educators of the Year for 2023 – Amanda Clark & Pam Pearce
Elected Official Conservationist of the Year for 2023 – Joseph Orgeron, Ph.D.
Conservation Communicator of the Year for 2023 – Don Shoopman
Conservation Organization of the Year for 2023 – AJ & Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation
2023 Lifetime Achievement – Martin "Marty" Floyd
The awards program seeks to recognize those individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made a significant and outstanding contribution toward the protection and wise use of Louisiana’s natural resources in the previous year. Each honoree will receive a handsome wildlife statuette. Recipients will be honored at a banquet held in Baton Rouge on April 12, 2024.
For 2023, LWF is excited to add the Lifetime Achievement category! All categories are described below.
58th Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet Sponsors
We want to thank all the sponsors of the 58th Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet sponsors. We couldn't honor our conservation champions without their generous support.
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Gold Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Cenac Marine Service
Delacroix Corporation
Louisiana Lottery Corporation
Michel H. Claudet, LLC
Pontchartrain Conservancy
Rapides Wildlife Association
Robert and Norma Stewart
Toledo Bend Lake Association
Award Categories
PROFESSIONAL
For outstanding accomplishments by a person who, in a compensated professional capacity, has made a significant contribution to the management, enhancement, or protection of Louisiana’s fish, wildlife, air, water, soil or forest resources, or related recreational opportunities.
VOLUNTEER
For outstanding achievement during the year in the management, enhancement, or protection of Louisiana’s fish, wildlife, air, water, soil or forest resources or related recreational opportunities by a person acting in a volunteer capacity.
BUSINESS
For significant achievement by a business in pollution abatement, land use planning and management, conservation education/awareness, habitat stewardship including providing lands for wildlife conservation and public recreation, etc. (This category is to honor a company, not an individual person.)
EDUCATOR
For outstanding performance in conservation education by a professional or volunteer. Instructors of hunter safety and outdoor ethics are eligible in this category as are teachers of the natural sciences, fish and wildlife management, environmental design and management, various aspects of environmental education, etc. Emphasis should be on teaching and working with students or the public rather than on research or administration.
ORGANIZATION
For outstanding conservation achievement by a state or local organization, including but not limited to civic organizations, environmental groups, sportsmen’s clubs, garden clubs, etc., in addressing significant natural resource management and environmental quality challenges. In special cases where government agencies or institutions have accomplished extraordinary work above and beyond their normal responsibilities, such organizations will be given consideration for this award.
COMMUNICATIONS
For outstanding work by a writer, reporter, radio or TV broadcaster, photographer, artist, cartoonist, radio or TV station, newspaper, website or other publication in creating public awareness of the importance of environmental quality and natural resource conservation or making a significant contribution toward the solution of a major conservation problem in the state.
ELECTED OFFICIAL
For outstanding conservation achievement by a local, state or federal elected official. All Louisiana elected officials, except the Governor, are eligible in this category.
YOUTH
For outstanding conservation work by a youngster (18 years of age or younger). The winner should have demonstrated leadership and accomplishment in any phase of conservation.
YOUTH ORGANIZATION
For outstanding conservation work by a youth group (18 years of age or younger) in addressing significant natural resource management and environmental quality challenges in any phase of conservation or related recreational opportunities.
CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR
For outstanding overall conservation achievement. This award recipient is selected by the judging committee from among the category recipients. Nominations are not accepted for this award.
Lifetime Achievement
The LifetimeAchievement Award given by Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a prestigious honor bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and sustained contributions to the field of wildlife conservation. Only one award may be given each year.
Nominees must have a minimum of 20 years of recent active and impactful involvement in wildlife conservation efforts within the state of Louisiana. The award is not given for posthumous work or outcomes. Nominees can be any individual from diverse backgrounds, including conservationists, researchers, educators, policy advocates, or community leaders. View the criteria HERE.
Program Rules and Procedures for 2023
1) Winners may not be named in every category. Recognition will be based primarily on accomplishments during 2023. Prior records may be considered, but this will be left up to the judges. Immediate past winners are not eligible to succeed themselves in the same category of accomplishment for which they were recognized the previous year.
2) Nominations may be submitted via the LWF website at lawildlifefed.org by the deadline of February 4, 2024. An email with all relevant documents may also be emailed to lwf@lawildlifefed.org if the website form is not working.
3) An essay of achievements for the nominee, not to exceed 1500 words, is required. The essay should describe the nominee’s accomplishments in 2023 (and previous years if relevant), including A) an explanation of their significance or impact and B) why the nominee’s accomplishments are important and worthy of recognition. Information such as past recognition, organization memberships, etc. may be appended to the essay. Documentation of accomplishments such as news articles, letters of support, photos, etc. should be included as a supplement to the essay. If a nomination is submitted for more than one category, a separate nomination form and complete essay must be submitted for each category entered. If available, please include a photograph of the nominee with the nomination.
4) Nominations that do not meet all standards and criteria will be returned to sender to be resubmitted with appropriate additions/modifications. Program judges may declare any nomination ineligible if proper documentation and supportive materials are not included. The decision of the judging committees will be final.
5) For the Lifetime Achievement Award established in 2023, view the criteria for which nominations will be judged in a separate document.