Awards

Prescribed Burning Awards

Photo Credit: Adam Warwick

Awards are presented at the NC Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting to recognize excellence in prescribed burning. This year the tradition will continue. Please read about each award and consider making a nomination for one or all of these. Nomination forms, due dates, and award contacts are listed below the descriptions of each award.

North Carolina Prescribed Burner of the Year Award

Presented by the NC Prescribed Fire Council to an individual or individuals for service to the Council and outstanding support for the continued use of prescribed fire as a land management tool in North Carolina. The award is presented at the annual meeting and includes a certificate or plaque and a copy of the commendation read at the awards ceremony. All members are welcome to submit a nomination. Award contact: Debbie Crane, [email protected]

Past Recipients

2023: David Nelson
2022: Adam Warwick
2021: Jon Blanchard
2020: Bruce White
2019: Carla Freeman
2018: Kevin Harvell
2017: Susan Miller
2016: Matthew Harrell
2015: Scott Pohlman
2014: Terry Sharpe
2013: Angie Carl
2012: Margit Bucher
2011: Jim Gray
2010: Bob Mickler and Cynthia VanDerWiele
2009: John Ann Shearer
2008: Brandon Price
2007: Kelley VanDruten

North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Lifetime Achievement Award

Presented by the NC Prescribed Fire Council to an individual for service to the Council and the broader prescribed fire community in North Carolina over the course of their career. The award is presented at the annual meeting. All members are welcome to submit a nomination. Award contact: Scott Pohlman [email protected]..

Past Recipients

2023: Tommy McColl
2022: Cabe Speary
2020: Margit Bucher
2019: Eric Dousharm
2018: Gary Curcio
2018: Bill Jackson
2017: Dean Simon
2017: Dale Brittain
2016: James Cherry
2015: Rick Studenmund
2014: Alan Rogers
2013: Scott Hartley

State Forester's Prescribed Burner of the Year Award

Presented annually to a N.C. Forest Service employee or team of employees who demonstrate leadership and excellence in accomplishing prescribed burning in North Carolina’s forest ecosystems. This award recognizes significant achievements in overcoming obstacles to prescribed burning, working successfully with landowners and partners to conduct, support, and facilitate prescribed burns, and promoting the benefits of prescribed burning. The acres burned in a single year are not the sole basis for this award. The recipient(s) of this award will have shown perseverance to accomplish and support prescribed burning for the health of the forest, its inhabitants, and the citizens of the state. The award will be presented by the State Forester at the annual North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council meeting.

Nominations for the 2023 State Forester’s Prescribed Burning Award are now being accepted (note the linked form). NC Forest Service employees and/or groups of employees may be nominated by NC Forest Service staff, partners, landowners, etc. Please share this email & nomination form with partners, landowners and others as you see fit. This award covers burning efforts that occurred between July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.

Nominations must be emailed to [email protected] and [email protected] by 5:00 PM on Friday, August 18, 2023. Please include “2023 Prescribed Burning Award Nomination” in the email heading.

Past Recipients

2023: Brad Allen
2022: Mike Hardison & Hugh Frazer, Prescribed Fire Mentors & Phil Wallace, Staff Forester Silviculture
2021: Keith Money, R2 ARF-Fire
2020: Bryan Singleton, Caswell County
2019: Carla Freeman – District 5 Management Ranger
2018: Jonathan Young, Taylor Whitmire and Preston George (Stokes County)
2017: David Spooner, Pilot and Wayne Everts, Crew Chief
2016: Kenny Griffin – District 11 Ranger
2015: David Poole and Jason Walker (Rowan County)
2014: Alan Hill, Hugh Hassell, Kerry Lathrop, Jonathan McCall, Charles Choplin, Harold Phillips, Bobby Mashburn, Benji Reece, Jamie Logan, and Dwayne Vigil (D9)
2013: Rob Shackelford, Dare County
2012: Jeremy Callicut, Assistant County Ranger, Stanley County
2011: Scott Maynor, Jason Haywood, Jay Strider, Tommy Gaddy, Tom White, Montgomery County
2010: Brian Elam, Surry County Ranger
2009: Phillip Inman, Mike Hardison, Shane Hardee, Brunswick County

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Prescribed Burning Award

Recognizes an individual employee or teams of employees for significant contributions in the implementation and promotion of prescribed fire as a natural resource management tool. “Individual” nominees must be full-time employees on the nomination date. “Team” nominees may also include part-time and temporary employees. Nominations will be accepted and are encouraged from any source. Recipient(s) will be announced in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council.

Past Recipients

2023: Matt Wheels
2022: Tim Mcfayden
2021: Jason Creegan, Zach Scott, Brandon Bridges, and Corey Patton
2020: Greg Queen
2019: David Gardner
2018: Brent Wilson
2017: Andrew Mynatt
2016: Casey Phillips
2015: Wilkes Crew: Jim Keepfer, Michael Greene, Wesley Duncan, and Jacob Longworth
2014: Ken Shugart
2013: Chris Baranski and Brandon Minor
2012: Dean Simon and Ryan Jacobs
2011: Bill Parsons, Chris Jordan, Brady Beck, Lincoln Sadler, Lee Criscoe, Michael Huffman, Jake Marquess, Rupert Medford, Brian Smith, Doug Dawkins, Jimmy Richardson, Dakota Hunter, Justin Tuttle, Sandhill Game Land Management Team

North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation Prescribed Burning Award

Recognizes an individual or a team of employees for significant contributions in the implementation and promotion of prescribed fire as a natural resource management tool. Individual nominees must be full-time employees on the nomination date listed below. Team nominees may include part-time and temporary employees. The award winner(s) will be selected from the nominees by the Division Fire Management Team and will be announced in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council. We recognize the award winner by the presentation of a trophy fire pot affixed with a brass plate inscribed with the recipient(s) name. Award contact is Jon Blanchard: [email protected].

Past Recipients

2023: Jesse Anderson and staff of Carolina Beach State Park
2022: Jeffrey Turner
2021: Joe Hawley, Joe Martin, & staff of Goose Creek State Park
2020: Robin Riddlebarger
2019: Scott Avis
2018: Colleen Bowers & staff of Carvers Creek State Park
2017: Chris Helms & staff of Carolina Beach State Park
2016: Eric Dousharm
2015: Matt Windsor
2014: Jonathan Short

National Forests in NC Prescribed Burner of the Year Award

The National Forests in North Carolina Prescribed Burner of the Year Award recognizes an individual who exhibits exemplary leadership and advancement of prescribed fire in North Carolina. Beginning in 2023, this award is given annually to a National Forests in North Carolina Employee(s) who exhibits model leadership and meaningful advancement to the prescribed fire program. Achievements do not have to be measured by acres or burn days but can include any significant contribution to promoting the robust National Forests in North Carolina Prescribed Fire Program

Past Recipients

2023: David Nelson