On Sunday June 11, 2017, Mohonk Consultations and a group of nearly 160 supporters presented the annual Distinguished Achievement Award to John Novi, the “fearless and imaginative” chef who is …
Distinguished Achievement Award
Through our annual Distinguished Achievement Award, Mohonk Consultations recognizes the efforts of people and organizations that have shown an extraordinary level of commitment in protecting the environment and in making the Hudson Valley more habitable, healthy, and participatory. They take the words to heart, Think globally, act locally.
Examples of their work include protecting water resources, agricultural lands, and open spaces; creating food security initiatives; launching recycling programs; creating rail trails; promoting outdoor education programs; environmental management; community-supported agriculture projects (CSAs); pioneering and promoting green technologies; conservation and management of natural resources; and public advocacy on behalf of social, historical, and environmental causes.
The Award ceremony, typically held in the Mohonk Mountain House Parlor, not only recognizes the remarkable achievements of the awardee(s), it also celebrates what is possible when a dedicated, committed force is willing to devote the time, energy and passion to protect our environment and communities. Below is a quick overview of all awardees; follow links to read more about each.
2024 The Vanaver Caravan
2023 Judith Enck
2022 Youko Yamamoto
2021 The Center for Creative Education
2020 The Rondout Valley High School Human Rights Club and Diana Zuckerman
2019 Stiles Najac
2018 John Lipscomb
2017 John Novi
2016 Rondout Valley Growers Association
2015 Ann Guenther
2014 Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
2013 Paul C. Huth
2012 Rik Flynn
2011 Laura Heady
2010 Michael Berg
2009 Laurence M. Hauptman
2008 Bob Larsen
2007 Les Hulcoop
2006 John Jankiewicz
2005 Mohonk Consultations' 25th Anniversary Celebration
2004 Ilka List
2003 Martha Cheo
2002 Al Valk
2001 Eight Community Supported Agriculture Farms
2000 Manna Jo Greene
1999 Helen L. Vukasin
1998 Karl Beard
1997 Jim & Mary Ottaway
1996 David Miller
1995 Erik Kiviat
1994 Steven Stanne
1993 Seven environmental educators: Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District; Dan Guenther; Fred Isseks and Middletown High School, New Castle League of Women Voters, Committee on the Environment Waste Reduction; Dorna Schroeter; Miriam Straus & Amy O’Connor.
1992 Environmental leaders: Frances F. Dunwell, Hudson Valley Greenway, Cindy Lancetta, Kingston Rotary Club, Holly L. Thomas, Damia Vietor, Wallkill/Shawangunk Correctional Facility Recycling Program.
1989 Environmental leadership in water issues, civic and political areas: Ann Botshon, Shirley Kobran, Warren McKeon.
1987 Preservation of open space and farmland and Hudson Valley land history: Scenic Hudson, Charles Keene, Trust for Public Lands, Greymoor Farms Preservation.
1985 Preservation of open space, community history, and local environmental leadership: Paul F. Brandwein, Kenneth E. Hasbrouck, Thomas Richardson, Nancy & Robert Stover.
1984 Environmental projects for youth: Highland School Tree Project; Philipstown Community Council, Inc.
2016 Award: Rondout Valley Growers Association
The Rondout Valley Growers Association (RVGA) is a nonprofit community organization comprised of local farmers, residents, and businesses committed to strengthening the region’s family farms and …
[Read more...] about 2016 Award: Rondout Valley Growers Association
2015 Award: Ann Guenther
Ann Guenther has been a naturalist and teacher for more than 20 years, and more recently cofounded the New Paltz Climate Action Coalition. To read a New Paltz …
2014 Award: Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and its founders and artistic directors, Marlena Marallo and Patrick Wadden. Founded in 1982, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater’s five-member company melds performance art, ecology, …
2013 Award: Dr. Paul C. Huth
Paul is director emeritus of Mohonk Preserve‘s Daniel Smiley Research Center (DSRC). He worked with Dan Smiley from 1974 until Dan’s death in 1989, when Paul assumed the role of the Preserve’s …
2012 Award: Rik Flynn
Rik Flynn is cofounder, director and former president of the board of UlsterCorps. Since its inception, the grassroots volunteer organization has worked to match up the right volunteer to the right …
2011 Award: Laura Heady
Laura Heady is biodiversity outreach coordinator for the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with Cornell University. She works to ensure clean water, protect fish, wildlife and their …
2010 Award: Michael Berg
Michael Berg is founder and leader of Family of Woodstock, Inc, the largest private, not-for-profit, social service agency in the Hudson Valley. Woodstock, NY. …
2009 Award: Laurence M. Hauptman
Laurence M. Hauptman, distinguished history professor emeritus at SUNY New Paltz, NY, is the well-known author of numerous scholarly books on the Seneca tribes, American history, and indigenous …
2008 Award: Bob Larsen
Mohonk Preserve ranger, trailblazer, cultural historian, and land preservationist. Marbletown, NY. …