Join us in celebrating our volunteers!
(Awardees are listed in no particular order)
Volunteer of the Year
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
in as many varied and worthy ways as there are species in the desert.
Virgil Swadley
Desert Tortoise Decade Award
In recognition of achieving 10 years of volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
and having earned the steadfast wisdom and momentum of a desert tortoise now entering its prime.
Virgil Swadley, Keith Kleber, Kathie Schroeder, Richard Sauer, Barbara Rose, Clive Probert,
Carl Boswell, Margie O’Hare, Terry Minks, Craig Lecroy, Peggy Hughes, Jan Cratty
Fifth Season in the Desert Award
In recognition of 5 years of volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection, an achievement as
welcome to desert dwellers as the monsoon season that thunders in after the hot, dry summer.
Don Broomall, Mike Froenher, Chuck & Mary Graf, Jefferson Stensrud, Pat & Henry Miller,
Frank Pitts, Evelyn Richards
Crepuscular Bobcat Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection, exceeding 50 hours
of time and skill in the last year, as active as a bobcat roaming morning, noon, and night.
Keith Kleber, Christine DeMatteo, Barbara Rose, Virgil Swadley
Jackrabbit of all Trades Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
performing two or more different volunteer roles in the last year.
Christine DeMatteo, Jane “Middy” Henke, Josh Skattum, Virgil Swadley
Cactus Bee Achievement Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
repairing and building wildlife cameras from spare parts with all the skill of a solitary cactus bee
constructing nests with nothing more than homemade adobe, salvaged cactus pollen, and nectar.
Don Broomall, Chuck Graf, Aiden Doherty
Desert Deer Identification Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
sharpening your skills as an expert in Odocoileus species identification.
Jane “Middy” Henke
Desert Roadies Roadkill Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
as the only person other than my children able to help me (Jessica Moreno)
complete roadkill surveys during state curfews and a pandemic.
Eduardo Moreno
Harris’s Hawk Teamwork Award
In recognition of seamless volunteer teamwork in service of Sonoran Desert protection,
an achievement as outstanding as a group Harris’s hawks cooperatively back-standing one on top of the other.
UA Environmental Law Society, UA Ramblers Club, Team DEER (Terry Minks, Margie O’Hare, Harold Wood),
Team THRASHER (Mike Froenher, Carol Bull, Dean Chapman, Vicki Ettleman)
Cactus Wren Advocate Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
advocating for smart decision-making with all the enthusiasm and passion of a calling cactus wren.
Barbara Rose, Gay Russell, Pat Miller
Muddy Mud Turtle Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
navigating floods, mud, and other challenges in wildlife camera rescue.
Samantha Wilber, Aiden Doherty, Charles “Butch” Farabee, Pat McGowan, Gary & Lenora Brown, Diana Holmes
Javelina Squadron Leader Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
passing on your knowledge as a mentor and instructor, like the intrepid leader of a squadron of javelina.
Josh Skattum, Samantha Wilber, Mike Froenher, Vicki Ettleman, Kathie Schroeder, Terry Minks, Margie O’Hare,
Charles “Butch” Farabee, Pat McGowan, Carl Boswell, Christine DeMatteo
Bighorn Sheep Pathfinder Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
traversing over rough terrain, changing elevations, and long distances off-trail to reach disparate sites
and scout new locations, sometimes crossing mountain ranges like a bighorn setting off on a long journey.
Keith Kleber, Carl Boswell, Josh Skattum, Samantha Wilber, Josh Skattum, Ken Lamberton, Peter Vollmer
Exploring Mountain Lion Award
In recognition of your fearless volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
that you began during a global pandemic, much like a dispersing mountain lion seeking
new adventures in the face of the unknown.
Patty Stern, Gay Russell, Scott Compton, David Rezits, Amy Pearse, Laurie & Bill Andel,
Harold Wood, Petra Gee, Robert Morse, Robert & Debra Kellerman, Zoe Benson, Kevin Kasper, John Hunt,
Darya Anderson, Taylor Macy, Michael Concincini, Brooke Caruthers, Maggie Pitts
Giant Crab Spider Award
In recognition of gentle and fearless volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
in the face of surprise spiders, insects, beetles, egg sacks, lizards, and snakes while opening your camera boxes.
Henry Miller, Keith Kleber, Virgil Swadley, Christine DeMatteo, Vicki Ettleman, Kristi Lewis,
Lisa Caprina & Doug Vollgraff
Clay-colored Sparrow Naturalist Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection
while also using your wildlife observations in the field to add to our knowledge of nature.
Andres & Ruben Martinez, Alan & Karen Dahl, Josh Skattum, Courtney Neumeyer, Ken Lamberton
Innovative Coyote Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
taking initiative to offer new techniques, data, and ideas to further our conservation efforts.
Matt Clark, Bruce Jacobsen, Josh Skattum, Raynor Vandeven
Home Sweet Home Creosote Award
In recognition of outstanding volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
working out of your home during a global pandemic, like a thriving solitary creosote
whose root system inhibits the growth of nearby plants around it to maintain social distancing.
Harriet Cowper, Lois Richardson, Gay Russell, Lainie, Gene McCormick, Joanne Devereau,
Peggy Hughes, Jefferson Stensrud, Kent Gearhiser, Mary Graf, Jeena Davidson, Jennifer Curtis,
Marcy Tigerman, Amy Rule, Breanne Quattlander
Spadefoot Patience Award
In recognition of steadfast volunteer service for Sonoran Desert protection by
maintaining the patience of an estivating spadefoot waiting to leap into action once I finally get back to you.
This one goes to all our volunteers, with special call outs to:
Gay Russell, Lois Richardson, Gene McCormick, Virgil Swadley
Tags: volunteer