2025 National Wildlife Refuge Awards
Honoring the people and partnerships protecting America's National Wildlife Refuges — with local celebrations and a national broadcast.
🎉 Meet the 2025 Awardees
Paul Kroegel Award – Refuge Manager of the Year
Andrew Gude
Lower Suwannee &
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Florida
Refuge Celebration: Postponed – new date to be announced
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 – Event Completed
Refuge Employee of the Year
Dartha Campbell
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
Refuge Celebration: Postponed – new date to be announced
Refuge Volunteer of the Year
Carl Zenger
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, New York
Refuge Celebration: October 15, 2025 – Event Completed
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. Due to the federal government shutdown, the national broadcast and two refuge celebrations have been postponed. New dates will be announced once the government reopens.
Our Sponsors
📅 Save the Dates
Virtual Broadcast Premiere
Postponed – new date to be announced
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
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October 7, 2025 – Rappahannock River Valley NWR, Virginia
Honoring Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends
2025 Molly Krival Award – Refuge Friends Group of the YearEvent Completed -
October 15, 2025 – Iroquois NWR, New York
Honoring Carl Zenger
2025 Refuge Volunteer of the YearEvent Completed -
October 28, 2025 – Okefenokee NWR, Georgia (Postponed)
Honoring Dartha Campbell
2025 Refuge Employee of the Year -
November 7, 2025 – Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys NWRs, Florida (Postponed)
Honoring Andrew Gude
2025 Paul Kroegel Award – Refuge Manager of the Year
Past Awardees & Events
More than 30 years of championing conservation leaders. Explore past award recipients and event highlights:
News & Announcements
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.