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
“Imagine Excellence”: The GWS Awards Program
Roster of Honorees
NOTE: The “Imagine Excellence” program was on hiatus from 2020 through 2024.
George Melendez Wright Award for Excellence (established 1992)
1992: Jerry F. Franklin
1995: Robert M. Utley, Jean Matthews, William B. Robertson, Jr. (co-winners)
1997: Bruce M. Kilgore
1999: Bryan Harry
2001: Robert M. Linn, Theodore W. Sudia (co-winners)
2002: Boyd Evison
2003: Daniel Lenihan
2005: John Hope Franklin, Jan van Wagtendonk (co-winners)
2007: George B. Hartzog, Jr.
2009: Michael Soukup
2011: Richard West Sellars
2013: Denis P. Galvin
2015: Alan Latourelle
2017: Loran Fraser
2019: Louise Johnson, Abigail Miller (co-winners)
2026: The next award will be presented at the 2026 GWS ParkForum at the University of Tennessee
GWS Cultural Resources Achievement Award (established 1997; prior to 2009, called the GWS Cultural Resources Management Award)
1997: Rowland Bowers
1999: Jerry L. Rogers
2001: Ann Hitchcock
2003: Denzil Verardo
2005: Nora Mitchell
2007: Nelly Margarita Robles Garcia
2009: Edwin Colón
2011: Ernie Gladstone
2013: Hugh C. Miller
2015: Mark Michel
2017: Eddie Cazayoux
2019: Melia Lane-Kamahele
2025: Sara Dolan
GWS Natural Resources Achievement Award (established 1988; prior to 2009, called the GWS Natural Resources Management Award)
1988: Roland Wauer
1990: Robert Moon
1992: No award given
1995: Robert J. Krumenaker
1997: Russell E. Galipeau, Jr.
1999: R. Gerald Wright
2001: Vincent Santucci
2003: Jerry Mitchell
2005: Linda Drees
2007: Charles van Riper III
2009: Kate Roney Faulkner
2011: David Cole
2013: Robert Winfree
2015: Karen Treviño
2017: John Dennis
2019: Anthony R. Fiorillo, Jeffrey Marion (co-winners)
2025: David Press
GWS Social Science Achievement Award (established 2009)
2009: Robert Manning
2011: No award given
2013: Peter Newman
2015: James Gramann
2017: Kerri Cahill
2019: Steve Lawson
2025: Ryan L. Sharp
GWS Communication Award (established 1999)
1999: Tim Davis
2001: Stephanie Dubois
2003: Jeffrey Cross
2005: David Andrews (on behalf of the staff of Common Ground)
2007: Harry Butowsky
2009: Yvonne Menard (in conjunction with colleagues at The Nature Conservancy)
2011: Paul Schullery
2013: Charles Jacobi
2015: Kurt Repanshek
2017: Rolf Diamant
2019: Brenda Barrett
2026: The next award will be presented at the 2026 GWS ParkForum at the University of Tennessee
GWS Social and Environmental Justice Award (established 2026)
2026: The inaugural award will be presented at the 2026 GWS ParkForum at the University of Tennessee
Special Achievement Award (occasional; given at discretion of GWS Board)
2001: George J. Minnucci, Jr.
2003: Wesley R. Henry, Jr.
2007: Gary E. Machlis
2013: Vernon C. "Tom" Gilbert
2019: Maria Caffrey
