2025 National Wildlife Refuge Awards
Honoring the people and partnerships protecting America's National Wildlife Refuges — with local celebrations and a national broadcast on November 20, 2025 starting at 7:00 pm ET.
🎉 Meet the 2025 Awardees
Paul Kroegel Award – Refuge Manager of the Year
Andrew Gude
Lower Suwannee &
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Florida
Refuge Celebration: November 7, 2025
Molly Krival Award – Refuge Friends Group of the Year
Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
Refuge Celebration: October 7, 2025
Refuge Employee of the Year
Dartha Campbell
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
Refuge Celebration: October 28, 2025
Refuge Volunteer of the Year
Carl Zenger
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, New York
Refuge Celebration: October 15, 2025
About the Wildlife Refuge Awards
The Wildlife Refuge Awards celebrate the people and partnerships that strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System — from staff and volunteers to community leaders and grassroots organizations.
In 2025, we’re bringing the awards back to the refuges. Each awardee will be honored in person at their local refuge, and highlights from these celebrations will be shared in a virtual national broadcast on November 20, 2025 starting at 7:00 pm ET.
Become a Sponsor
Support the 2025 Wildlife Refuge Awards and align your brand with wildlife conservation, public lands, and community leadership.
We offer opportunities for both national sponsorship of our virtual broadcast and local sponsorship of on-the-ground refuge celebrations honoring this year’s awardees.
Past Awardees & Events
More than 30 years of championing conservation leaders. Explore past award recipients and event highlights:
📅 Save the Date
November 20, 2025
Virtual Broadcast Premiere — starting at 7:00 pm ET
Join us online for a nationwide celebration featuring stories, films, and voices from the field — honoring the people who make our National Wildlife Refuge System thrive.
Local Refuge Celebrations
- October 7, 2025 – Rappahannock River Valley NWR, Virginia
- October 15, 2025 – Iroquois NWR, New York
- October 28, 2025 – Okefenokee NWR, Georgia
- November 7, 2025 – Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys NWRs, Florida
🔔 RSVP form coming soon
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 National Wildlife Refuge Awards, a beloved tradition recognizing exceptional contributions to the National Wildlife Refuge System.