“Imagine Excellence”:
The GWS Awards Program
Dolan, Press, Sharp receive 2025 GWS Awards
After a hiatus of several years, Imagine Excellence, the GWS Awards Program, returned in October 2025 at the inaugural GWS ParkForum Conservation Solutions Workshop at the University of Montana.
Sara Dolan of the US National Park Service won the GWS Cultural Resources Achievement Award. She was recognized for her work protecting sensitive archaeological resources and integrating traditional Indigenous cultural practices into natural resources decision-making.
David Press of of the US National Park Service won the GWS Natural Resources Achievement Award. He was honored for his accomplishments in using sound science to navigate politically and ecologically complex issues at Point Reyes National Seashore.
Ryan Sharp of the University of Tennessee won the GWS Social Science Achievement Award for his record of applied research, stakeholder engagement, and scholarship, and his commitment to mentoring students to build the next generation of conservation professionals.
David Press, Ryan Sharp, Sara Dolan
Through Imagine Excellence, our awards program, GWS recognizes outstanding accomplishments in research, administration and management, communications and education, and the promotion of social and environmental justice as they relate to parks, protected/conserved areas, cultural sites, and other forms of place-based conservation.
Here are the six awards:
The George Melendez Wright Award for Excellence, given in recognition of lifetime contributions on behalf of the Society or in furtherance of its purposes. This is the Society's highest award, and it is reserved for exceptional achievements in any of the areas with which the GWS is concerned. It is a top-of-career award. (To be given in 2026)
The GWS Communications Award, given in recognition of excellence in communication, interpretation, or related areas pertaining to the purposes of the Society. This award is given specifically to recognize outstanding efforts in communicating highly technical or controversial park-related subjects to the public in a clear and understandable manner. (To be given in 2026)
The GWS Social and Environmental Justice Award, given in recognition of excellence in seeking and advocating for inclusive and impartial alternatives that proactively address socioenvironmental justice as it relates to place-based conservation. (To be given in 2026)
The GWS Cultural Resource Achievement Award, given in recognition of excellence in research, management, or education related to the cultural resources of parks, cultural and historic sites, reserves, protected/conserved areas, and other forms of place-based conservation. (Given in odd-numbered years)
The GWS Natural Resource Achievement Award, given in recognition of excellence in research, management, or education related to the natural resources of parks, reserves, protected/conserved areas, and other forms of place-based conservation. (Given in odd-numbered years)
The GWS Social Science Achievement Award, given in recognition of excellence in social science research, management, or education related to parks, reserves, protected/conserved areas, cultural and historic sites, and other forms of place-based conservation. (Given in odd-numbered years)
GWS awards consist of a plaque, a stipend to help pay the winner’s expenses to the presentation event, and a year’s complimentary membership in the Society.
We will bestow the GWS Communications Award, the GWS Social And Environmental Justice Award, and the George Meléndez Wright Award for Excellence at the ParkForum 2026 workshop at the University of Tennessee.
We will open nominations for the 2026 round in May. Nominations must come from GWS members in good standing. The nominee does not have to be a GWS member.
Read on for more details and the nomination form, which will be updated when we open the 2026 round.
How do I make a nomination?
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Nominations must come from GWS members in good standing. (To check your membership status, send a note to info@georgewright.org.) The person being nominated need not be a member, however.
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The nomination must be of an individual, not a group. However, it is permissible to reference the nominee’s involvement with a team in the nomination.
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Nominations must be made through the webform below.
