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
- 2024: Jennifer Fawcett
- 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
- 2024: Brady Beck, Christa Rogers
- 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 this award are open through July 12th, 2024. Submit the nomination form to Sean Brogan, [email protected] by COB on that date.
Past Recipients
- 2024: Jordan Luff, Mike Santucci (Dupont State Forest)
- 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
- 2024: Chris Henline, Michael Tipton, Joe Tomcho, and Greg Fox (Burnsville Wildlife Conservation Crew)
- 2023: Matt Williams
- 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.
Past Recipients
- 2024: Joy Greenwood
- 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
- 2024: Jeffery Greene
- 2023: David Nelson