2015 Awards

I am pleased to announce that we have made selections for the 2015 National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) Awards. In 2011, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF), the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) and the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW) developed a nonmonetary awards program to recognize the leadership and accomplishments of important partners, and increase awareness and understanding by the media and public about invasive species issues. The NISAW Awards Program features three award categories which include an aquatic and terrestrial component. Anyone may nominate individuals or groups to receive these awards.

Once again, we received outstanding award nominations and it was difficult to select only one winner for each category. There is no way we could have accomplished as much as we have in 2014 without the help of these talented people so dedicated to the fight against invasive species. Below are the winners who will be presented with an award during the week of NISAW, February 22 – 28, 2015 in Washington, DC. We hope to have the awards presented by officials from the US Department of Interior and US Department of Agriculture.

Lifetime Achievement/ Aquatic Award
Al Cofrancesco, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, MS
Robert McMahon, University of Texas at Arlington, TX

Lifetime /Terrestrial Award
Gordon Brown, retired National Invasive Species Council, DC

Leadership / Aquatic Award
Steve Kendrot, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services, MD

Leadership/ Terrestrial Award
Cathy Lucero, Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Board, WA

Outreach/Aquatic Award
Bob Wiltshire, Invasive Species Action Network, MT

Outreach/Terrestrial Award
Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, HI

Volunteer/ Aquatic Award
The Volunteers, NH LAKES Lake Host Program, NH

Volunteer/Terrestrial Award
Mark Imlay, Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council, MD

I hope you will join me in congratulating the winners by attending the 2015 NISAW Awards Ceremony Wednesday, February 25th from 9 to 12 at the USDA Whitten Building, courtyard patio. The ceremony will be in conjunction with the first NISAW Invasive Species Fair. If you plan to attend, please provide your name and affiliation to Laura Norcutt to obtain access to the USDA building.