Welcome to the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education

MAEOE Awards

MAEOE, as Michigan's professional association for environmental and outdoor education honors deserving colleagues each fall at our conference. Please take the opportunity to nominate a colleague for one one of our awards.

Nomination deadline is August 10, 2025.
Award recipients will be recognized at MAEOE's annual conference in Marquette, October 3-5, 2025.
You do not need to be a member of MAEOE to nominate or receive awards.
Read descriptions carefully to ensure your nominee meets the criteria.
You may submit one nomination per form. You can submit multiple forms for separate nominations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Nomination Form

Nominations are due August 10, 2025

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

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 Becker
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

P.O. Box 27426
Lansing, MI 48909

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