Celia Hunter Award for Outstanding Volunteer Contributions
This award recognizes significant, long-term efforts as a leader in the grassroots, volunteer environmental movement in Alaska. Appropriate candidates are active on a state or nationwide level, are ardent conservation supporters, and have made a difference for Alaska's conservation movement over many years. This award is named for Celia Hunter, a pioneer conservationist and advocate for Alaska's wild places. The award winner has the opportunity to recommend a grant to the organization of their choice.2008 Award Recipient
Andrew Keller of Fairbanks, Alaska
For thirty years, Andy has primarily been a volunteer in grassroots efforts to protect public lands in Alaska. He worked in a campaign leading to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and continued the ongoing efforts to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development. Andy's Refuge connection stems from his work as a biological technician for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He has spoken to members of Congress numerous times concerning the Refuge, and has traveled in general across the country to speak and present against the legislation that would open the Refuge to oil development. He is currently the Chair of the Denali Group of the Sierra Club.
2007 Award Recipient
Nancy Bale of Anchorage, Alaska
Nancy is the president of Denali Citizens Council (DCC), a group that focuses on issues affecting the conservation of Denali National Park (DNP) and its surroundings. Nancy not only plays a supervisory role at DCC, but she also manages its finances, organizes its campaigns and initiatives, and also is its primary spokesperson. With Nancy’s drive, DCC became an effective educator on such items as the Usibelli Coal Mine proposal to explore for coalbed methane in the Healy Basin, and also of former Governor Murkowski’s Stampede Road Improvement Project. Her extreme dedication has rejuvenated DCC’s original role within DNP and its surrounding community. On top of all of this, she holds a full-time job as a nurse in an Anchorage school.
2006 Award Recipient
Sarah James
For Sarah James, working to protect the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou herd just makes sense. Her people, the Gwich’in, or Caribou People, have always relied on this herd for their living. Since 1988, James has been the spokesperson for the Gwich’in Steering Committee on the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. James is also known for working with peers across the nation and world on issues concerning global warming and for mentoring younger people in cultural environmental activism. As Sarah says “We are caribou people. It’s our clothing, our story, our song, our dance and our food. That’s what we are. If you drill for oil here, you are drilling right into the heart of our existence.”
2005 Award Recipients
Richard Gordon
Richard is a long-time advocate for the protection of Southeast Alaska’s special places. He is a founding member of the Stellar Society, the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, and the Juneau Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Sean McGuire
Sean has shown similar dedication in protecting wild lands in Interior Alaska. Sean advocated for the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act by walking from the Yukon River to Key West, Florida, speaking at numerous events along the way. Since then Sean has been active in issues including clear-cut logging along the Tanana River, air quality in Fairbanks, and other conservation and quality of life issues throughout Northern Alaska.2004 Award Recipients
Nina Faust and Ed Bailey
Nina Faust, a retired high school teacher, and her partner Ed Bailey, a former biologist with the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, are well-known volunteer activists in Homer. Active with Kachemak Bay Conservation Society since 1981, both retired from their professional responsibilities in the mid-1990s to devote more time to the environmental causes close to their hearts. They have most recently been active on coalbed methane issues, offshore lease sales, box stores, and various other local issues. They founded the Kachemak Bay Crane Watch program to track sandhill cranes, and have provided the birds and other wildlife with a 900 “Inspiration Ridge Wildlife Preserve” above Homer. Ed has also been a leading advocate in banning bear baiting statewide.
Ed and Nina’s generosity goes beyond time and physical energy. In 2003, Cook Inlet Keeper, Alaska Marine Conservation Center, and the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society moved their offices to the Kachemak Bay Conservation Center, a “green construction” facility built by Ed for use by local conservation groups.
