Photo: 2021 Environmental Awards Winners. More info here.
Each year, we recognize the great work of inspiring environmental activists and innovators from around our state with awards to show our appreciation. Our award categories inspire nominations to honor not only Sierra Club volunteers and staff but also other individuals and organizations who have done so much to defend, improve, and celebrate the Texas environment. The Awards Committee relies on nominations from people like you in selecting those individuals or groups who in the previous year, on the local/Group or state/Chapter level, have excelled in some conservation, outings, administrative, or media capacity. Some awards are specifically for Sierra Club people and work, but check out the full list – we are proud of environmentalists of all stripes.
The chapter environmental awards are presented at a special event each year. In 2021, we honored award recipients for work in 2020. In 2022, we will honor awards recipients for work in 2021 at an event in November.
Nominations for the 2022 Texas Environmental Awards are now closed.
The award categories include:
Orrin Bonney Award - The Chapter's highest award, given to the person who over a number of years (at least six) has exemplified the spirit and commitment of the Sierra Club by contributing their time and effort in one or several positions of authority for the Chapter. Click here for past recipients.
Evelyn R. Edens Award - Commemorates the work of this Fort Worth area environmentalist who passed away in February 1993. She worked in cooperation with others to create Save the Brazos and the annual Texas Meeting on the Outdoors and served on the executive committee of the Lone Star Chapter. The award, to be conferred only when merited, will honor river conservation efforts of individuals and groups. Click here for past recipients.
Hermann Rudenberg Award - To be given to a Sierra Club member or other person who has worked diligently for the protection of Texas coastal resources. The award is named for its first recipient, Hermann Rudenberg of Galveston, who died in 1994. He was a longtime coastal activist for the Sierra Club at the local, state and National level. Click here for past recipients.
Virginia Murray Brewer Award - To be given to a Sierra Club member or members who have contributed to the Chapter and/or a Regional Group via the Outings Program. The award commemorates Virginia Murray Brewer, who along with her husband, Byron, was an active member and founder of the Central Texas Regional Group of the Sierra Club. Virginia was active in leading and promoting group outings that drew many members into the Central Texas Regional Group. Click here for past recipients.
Chapter Conservation Award - To be given to a Sierra Club member or members who have worked diligently during the past year on a particular issue or who have revitalized the conservation efforts of the Chapter or Group. Click here for past recipients.
Chapter Service Award - To be given to a Sierra Club member or members who have contributed significantly to the administrative activities of the Chapter, and/or Group, including fundraising, membership, publications, etc. Click here for past recipients.
Special Service Award - To be given to the person or persons, members or non-members, who either on one or more occasions have performed a special service to the Sierra Club or to environmental protection. Click here for past recipients.
Environmental Reporting Award - To be given to the reporter(s) in any media who have produced a series or single report which has provided exceptional coverage of an environmental issue. A volunteer award is given to a person or persons who has produced media projects or published Chapter or Group newsletters. Click here for past recipients.
Environmental Justice Award - To be given to an individual or organization that has done outstanding work toward identifying and addressing environmental problems that have a disproportionately adverse effect on communities of color and/or low-income communities. This award will be conferred only when merited. Click here for past recipients.
Harrold Tabor Award for Fundraising - To be given to a Sierra Club member or members who have done outstanding work in the area of fundraising for the Club during the past year. This award is named for Harrold Tabor, who was an active leader of both the Lone Star Chapter and the Concho Valley (San Angelo) Regional Group for many years. He was the creative force behind the Chapter's fundraising efforts in the 1980s, and his leadership in building financial resources helped the Chapter to achieve a major expansion of its conservation work in Texas. The award will be conferred only when merited. This award is especially designed to be given for work at the regional level because of the importance of local fundraising, but it may be conferred also for fundraising work at the state and chapter level. Click here for past recipients.
Art in Service to the Environment Award - To be given to an individual or group for an outstanding work of art in any medium or discipline in service to the environment. The award will be conferred only when merited. Click here for past recipients.
Ken Kramer Living Waters Award - The Ken Kramer Living Waters Award was created to honor Ken Kramer's thirty years of service as the Director of the Lone Star Chapter and his special dedication to the issues of water quality and water conservation over the course of his career. The award is to be given when merited to the member or person who has contributed significantly to the preservation or restoration of water quality or to implementing strategies for water conservation beneficial to people and the environment in Texas. Click here for past recipients.
The Hal Suter Environmental Alliance Award - This newest award will be given to the person or persons, members or non-members, who have helped further environmental goals through collaboration with other individuals, groups, or entities. The award commemorates Henry "Hal" Suter, who was a champion for alliances to fight harm to his beloved state, its beaches, and its clean air and water. Hal had strong ties with unions and served the Chapter on the Apollo Alliance to fight for common blue-green issues, such as green jobs in renewable energy. He was instrumental in creating the Fair Trade Caucus at the Texas Democratic Party convention, another coalition between labor and environmental groups. Working with the Surfrider Foundation and as president of the Beach Access Coalition, he fought to maintain public access to beaches in the Coastal Bend. Hal was a master at bringing people together to find common interests and form effective coalitions. Click here for past recipients.
The Legislative Champion Award - When merited, this award is given to members of the Texas Legislature after each legislative session in recognition of their steadfast commitment to fighting for the environment at the Texas Capitol. Typically given to one member of the House and one member of the Senate, the award winners are determined, in part, by receiving the top score on our Texas Legislative Scorecard, which represents a cross section of Sierra Club's legislative priorities, as well as by playing a key role in advancing Sierra Club’s legislative priorities. Click here for past recipients.
Questions? Contact Marlene Plua at marlene.gchavez@gmail.com.