MAEOE Awards

MAEOE, as Michigan's professional association for environmental and outdoor education honors deserving colleagues each fall at our conference. See our very deserving award winners below.

Award Categories

William Stapp Environmental Education Award

This award is given to up to 1 nominee, and is named for the University of Michigan’s Dr. Bill Stapp.
This is MAEOE’s highest honor in the field of Environmental Education.
The Stapp Award is most appropriate for those with a long career conducting formal or non-formal programs that may focus on, but not be limited to, community awareness and stewardship of land, water, and/or air quality, solid and hazardous waste education, energy conservation and others.
The recipient must have demonstrated a lifetime of devoted service and have spent at least ten years working in Michigan.
This award nomination requires two additional support letters.

Stapp Award Dave Szczygiel

Julian Smith Outdoor Education Award

This award is given to up to 1 nominee, and is named for the the nationally recognized Director of Michigan State University’s Outdoor Education Project.
This is MAEOE’s highest honor in the field of Outdoor Education.
The Smith Award is most appropriate for those with a long career implementing and conducting programs for students with an outdoor education emphasis including hunting, fishing, camping, archery, forestry, nature study and others.
The recipient must have demonstrated a lifetime of devoted service and have spent at least ten years working in Michigan.
This award nomination requires two additional support letters.

Smith award winner Amy Cherry

Rising Star Award

This award is given annually to up to 2 nominees.
Recognizing an early career professional who is new to the fields of environmental and outdoor education.
The nominee has demonstrated leadership, innovation, as well as exhibited best practices in environmental and/or outdoor education.
Eligible nominees must have been in the field less than 5 years.

Rising Star Awardee Jalen Sims

Recognition Award

This award is given annually to up to 2 nominees.
Most appropriate for those making significant contributions to the fields of environmental and/or outdoor education, in a specialized area such as journalism, photography, curriculum development, interpretation.
And/or an individual making significant contributions towards creating, delivering, managing or sustaining environmental and/or outdoor programs.

Recognition Awardee Daniel Moffatt

Recognition award winner Savannah Obert-Pfeiffer

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award

This award is given annually to up to 2 nominees.
Most appropriate for an individual who has made outstanding contributions connecting diverse audiences to environmental and/or outdoor education in Michigan.
The recipient’s contributions should exemplify community engagement, research, teaching or other positive impacts furthering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the fields of environmental and outdoor education.

JEDIA award winner BOAT

Impact Award

This award is given annually to up to 2 organizations.
In recognition of relevant programs and/or campaigns that enhance the quality and availability of environmental and/or outdoor education (e.g. newsletters, professional development, events, series, and/or new initiatives).

Impact Awardee Detroit Outdoors

Volunteer Award

This award is given annually to up to 3 individuals.
Who volunteer their time and skills for more than 1 year to a school, college, camp, outdoor center, zoo, nature center, a MAEOE committee, or other venue that promotes environmental and/or outdoor education.

Volunteer Awardee Bob Patterson

Past award winners

William Stapp Award

1991 - Dr. Marty Hetherington
1992 - Dr. Glen Dudderar
1993 - Unknown
1994 - Randall Raymond
1995 - Tom Hodgson
1996 - Beth Clawson
1997 - Dennis Laidler
1998 - Gary Dunn
1999 - Bruce Patterson
2000 - Mike Krebill
2001 - Dr. Orin Gelderlose
2002 - Linda Humphries
2003 - Toni O'Neill
2004 - Dr. Victoria Swenson
2005 - Ranger Steve Mueller
2006 - Mark Fitzpatrick
2007 - Dorothy McLeer
2008 - Dr. Donald Snitgen
2009 - Barbara Pepper
2010 - Janet Vail
2011 - Brandon Schroeder
2012 - Steve Stewart
2013 - Unknown
2014 - Joan Chadde
2015 - Lisa Appel
2016 - KBS
2017 - Not awarded
2018 - Kevin Frailey
2019 - Dave Chapman
2020 - COVID
2021 - Not awarded
2022 - Beaver Island, no awards
2023 - Dr. Cindy Fitzwilliams-Heck
2024 - Dr. Mary Whitmore
2025 - Dave Szczygiel

Julian W. Smith Award

1983 - Mike Mansour
1989 - Dr. Ruth Jacquot
1990 - John Schimmel
1991 - H. Lewis Batts Jr.
1992 - Walter and Myrna Berlet
1993 - Unknown
1994 - Eunice Hendrix
1995 - Jo Burgess
1996 - Ron Racon
1997 - Charles Blackman
1998 - Alan Somerville
1999 - Dr. Betty van der Smissen
2000 - Kenneth Kuester
2001 - Mary Jane Dockeray
2002 - Del Bachert
2003 - Unknown
2004 - Unknown
2005 - Gary Williams
2006 - Lynn Dominguez
2007 - Mark Stepehens and Shari Dann
2008 - Dr. Jean Kinnear
2009 - Phil Moore
2010 - Chuck Delpier
2011 - Jon Gray
2012 - Andrea Grix
2013 - Kathleen Dougherty
2014 - Dan Badgley
2015 - Pete Stobie
2016 - KBS
2017 - Not awarded
2018 - Wil Reding
2019 - Margaret Holtschlag
2020 - COVID
2021 - Not awarded
2022 - Beaver Island, no awards
2023 - Jon Spieles
2024 - Nick DiCresce
2025 - Amy Cherry

P.O. Box 27426
Lansing, MI 48909

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