The North Carolina Coastal Federation Pelican Awards annually recognize the exceptional work of people to protect and restore our coast. The 2026 winners have shared their time and talents through leadership, education, hands-on projects, and volunteer efforts to inspire others and create lasting change. Congratulations to all of our winners!
Northeast Coastal Region Awards
Joy Cook
For Leadership and Dedication to Coastal Protection, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Joy Cook’s career reflects an extraordinary commitment to conservation, public service, and stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal resources. Following her recent retirement as Superintendent of Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Joy concluded nearly three decades of service with North Carolina State Parks, including nine years leading one of the state’s most iconic natural landmarks. Known for her collaborative spirit, positivity, and dedication to the community, Joy has been a valued partner in advancing coastal conservation and education. Her leadership supported numerous initiatives at Jockey’s Ridge, including the Federation’s Living Shoreline Project and the establishment of a public oyster shell recycling site. Through her commitment to partnership and environmental stewardship, Joy has left a lasting impact on the Outer Banks and coastal North Carolina.
Jayne Young
For Outstanding Volunteer Service Advancing Coastal Environmental Education
Jayne is an exceptional volunteer whose kindness, compassion, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our education programs. As a retired educator, she brings invaluable experience and insight to every interaction, helping create positive and engaging learning experiences for students. Jayne is a steadfast presence in our programs, generously dedicating her time and energy to supporting students and staff. Whether spending long days on her feet or skillfully guiding middle school students with patience, understanding, and good humor, she consistently helps create an environment where students can learn and thrive. In addition to her work with our organization, Jayne is deeply committed to serving the community through a variety of volunteer efforts. Her unwavering commitment to education and service makes her a deserving recipient of this recognition and a shining example of the difference one volunteer can make.
Sean Ellis
For Exceptional Volunteer Contributions to Coastal Stewardship and Community Service
Sean Ellis is a dedicated volunteer whose generosity and willingness to help have made a lasting impact on the North Carolina Coastal Federation. Sean not only supports our oyster shell recycling program in the Outer Banks, but has also donated countless hours tackling maintenance projects and handyman work around our Wanchese office. No job is too big or too small for Sean – from complete bathroom renovations to highway and boat ramp cleanups, pest management, and hauling recycled oyster shells and equipment up and down Highway 12 for events, Sean is always happy to lend a hand and show up whenever needed. Sean’s positive attitude, compassion, and unwavering dedication embody the spirit of volunteer service and have made a lasting difference to our staff, programs, and community.
Central Coastal Region Awards
North River Laurel Road Ladies Outreach Committee
For Grassroots Leadership Advancing Coastal Resilience and Community Action
The North River Laurel Road Ladies Outreach Committee is a driving force for community resilience in the North River, Laurel Road, and Merrimon communities. As trusted leaders and advocates, the committee has united neighborhoods, amplified local voices, and built partnerships that are helping these historic coastal communities respond to increasing coastal hazards. With deep roots in the communities they represent, committee members have connected residents with organizations such as the NC Coastal Federation while ensuring community priorities remain at the forefront of resilience planning. Their willingness to embrace collaboration and explore nature-based solutions has made them invaluable partners in the Salt Marsh Cooperative alongside the Federation, Lighthouse Environment Partners, and NC State University’s Coastal Dynamic Design Lab. Through their passion, perseverance, and commitment to their neighbors, the committee continues to inspire community action, strengthen the bonds between communities, and demonstrate the power of grassroots leadership in advancing coastal resilience.
Jason Vanzant
For Inspiring Future Coastal Stewards Through Education and Partnership
For decades, Jason Vanzant—also known as “Mr. Vantaztic”—has inspired the next generation of coastal stewards through innovative STEM education. Now serving as the Schools in Parks Specialist at Hammocks Beach State Park, Jason previously spent many years as a classroom teacher and STEM coordinator, where he became known for making science engaging, relevant, and fun. Nationally recognized for his leadership in environmental education, he received the 2021 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more than a decade, Jason has partnered with the Coastal Federation to connect students with nature-based solutions, including living shorelines and coastal conservation. His interdisciplinary, hands-on, and place-based approach has increased student achievement and interest in STEM while fostering lasting community partnerships. Through his passion and creativity, Jason continues to spark curiosity, inspire future scientists, and strengthen environmental stewardship across coastal North Carolina.
Thomas L. Kirmeyer and Nan Bowles
For Dedicated Partnership and Commitment to Advance Watershed Restoration
Tom Kirmeyer and Nan Bowles made an extraordinary commitment to coastal conservation when they chose to sell their 8.25-acre waterfront property along Wards Creek at roughly half its market value. In doing so, they provided a remarkable gift to North Carolina’s coast and future generations. Their property includes nearly a half mile of shoreline and adjoins the North River Wetlands Preserve, expanding an important conservation landscape. Its protection will help safeguard shellfish waters, salt marsh habitat, wildlife, and water quality while preventing future development along this sensitive shoreline. What makes their contribution especially inspiring is that Tom and Nan are not wealthy philanthropists. They are ordinary people with a deep love for the coast who chose conservation over personal financial gain. Their willingness to forgo a substantial portion of the property’s value reflects a profound commitment to protecting coastal resources for future generations. Through their generosity, vision, and stewardship, they have created a lasting legacy for North Carolina’s coast.
Southeast Coastal Region Awards
Lindsay Addison
For Dedicated Partnership Advancing Coastal Habitat Conservation and Restoration
Lindsay Addison focuses her binoculars on birds, but she also sees all the things that need to come together for a healthy coast capable of providing critical habitat and clean waters that are essential to sustaining our bird populations. She is a passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated advocate for the coast. Lindsay has been Audubon NC’s coastal biologist since 2011. In this role, she and her staff manage and monitor about 40% of the waterbirds that nest on North Carolina’s coast. She serves on the American Oystercatcher Working Group’s Steering Committee, coordinates North Carolina’s statewide oystercatcher banding program, and collaborates with academic and agency partners around the state on science and monitoring projects. Lindsay earned her undergraduate degree at Stetson University and her M.S. at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she studied Least Terns nesting on natural beaches and rooftops. She has worked in bird conservation since 2005, in Florida, Massachusetts, and California.
Conserve the Point
For Community Leadership in Protecting and Stewarding the South End of Topsail Island
Conserve the Point has demonstrated the extraordinary impact of grassroots leadership in protecting one of North Carolina’s most treasured coastal landscapes. Founded by dedicated community members, the organization united residents, visitors, and local leaders around a shared vision to conserve the south end of Topsail Island and ensure its permanent protection for future generations. Today, Conserve the Point continues its work through stewardship, education, advocacy, and volunteer engagement, caring for this ecologically significant area while fostering a strong sense of community ownership and environmental responsibility. From organizing volunteer workdays and supporting habitat restoration to advocating for the long-term health of the coast, the organization has inspired countless people to become active stewards of the place they love. Through its leadership, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to conservation, Conserve the Point has created a lasting legacy for Topsail Island and serves as an inspiring example of the power of community-driven coastal stewardship.
Warren Darrell
For Outstanding Volunteer Leadership in Coastal Resilience and Community Engagement
Warren Darrell embodies the power of volunteer leadership through his unwavering commitment to North Carolina’s coast. A dedicated Coastal Federation volunteer, Warren goes above and beyond to learn, share, and inspire. He works closely with Federation staff to understand complex restoration projects and emerging topics like blue carbon, then brings that knowledge to classrooms, community groups, and field experiences throughout the region. Whether he is paddling his kayak to document eroding shorelines, speaking at local events, or leading educational outings, Warren is constantly finding new ways to connect people with our coast. His service also extends to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Ecologic Development Fund, Earthwatch, Friends of the Coastal Reserve, and he teaches environmental science through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. A retired professional engineer with master’s degrees in environmental engineering and environmental science, Warren is also an accomplished pianist whose curiosity, generosity, and passion for learning inspire others to become lifelong stewards of our coast.
Media Award
Island Free Press
For Excellence in Collaborative Coastal Community Journalism
With so much coastal environmental news coming from Hatteras Island and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in recent years, Donna Barnett, owner of the Island Free Press, an online newspaper that serves both Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, and Editor Joy Crist have been invaluable partners with the Federation’s Coastal Review online news service by augmenting our own reporting and photography. From the more than 30 oceanfront houses in Rodanthe and Buxton that have fallen into the Atlantic in recent years to the ongoing cleanup of military pollution, including petroleum waste and debris at Buxton Beach, Donna and Joy have generously shared their team’s reporting and photojournalism with the Coastal Review. Likewise, Island Free Press has amplified Coastal Review’s reporting over the past 10 or more years by regularly republishing our work when relevant to Hatteras or Ocracoke. This greatly extends our reach into their community and helps build goodwill for the Coastal Federation.
Coastal Legacy Awards
Capital Campaign Cabinet
Coastal Visionary Award
For Extraordinary Leadership and Commitment to Establishing the Coastal Protection and Restoration Center
The Coastal Federation’s Capital Campaign Cabinet has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, vision, and dedication in establishing the Federation’s new Coastal Protection and Restoration Center. With its Grand Opening planned for this fall, this transformational Coastal Center will serve as a lasting hub for coastal education, conservation, and community engagement, inspiring and connecting people to our coast for generations to come. Through their leadership, determination, and countless hours of planning, outreach, and advocacy, the Cabinet led by example, inspiring remarkable generosity and successfully raising nearly $10 million to bring this bold vision to life. A capital campaign is often an extraordinary journey—one marked by ambitious goals, unexpected challenges, and hard-earned successes. Throughout that journey, the Cabinet remained steadfast in its commitment, never losing sight of the mission or the impact this Center would have on future generations. The Coastal Center stands as a lasting testament to their leadership, generosity, and commitment to the future of the coast. Their legacy will be measured not only by the Center they helped create, but by the countless individuals it will inspire for years to come.
Chair: Charles C. Meeker
Honorary Chairs: Hugh Cullman (Posthumous); Olivia B. Holding; Brad Stanback
At Large: Kenneth S. Chestnut, Sr.; Kyle Elliott; Dr. Mary Katherine Lawrence; Todd Miller; John Preyer; Dr. Joseph Ramus; Shelli Willis; Smedes York
Special thanks to our Federation staff serving on this committee, including Braxton Davis, Sarah King, Amanda Lyle, and Catherine Snead.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Glenn Blackburn
Lifetime Achievement Award
For Excellence in Coastal History and Conservation Writing
Historian and Professor Emeritus Glenn Blackburn has made an extraordinary contribution to preserving the history of coastal conservation in North Carolina. Through years of meticulous research and more than 150 interviews with Coastal Federation staff, volunteers, fishermen, scientists, and community leaders, Glenn has documented the people, partnerships, and vision that have shaped the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the coast it serves. His books, Saving Great Places and A Spectacular Coast and Its Guardians, chronicle the Federation’s journey from a small grassroots organization founded in 1982 to a coastwide leader in coastal protection and restoration. More than organizational history, these works honor the countless individuals whose dedication has safeguarded North Carolina’s remarkable coastal environment. By preserving these stories for future generations, Glenn has created a legacy that celebrates the power of citizens working together to protect our coast. His scholarship ensures that the Federation’s history and the lessons it holds will continue to inspire coastal stewardship for years to come.
Dr. Stan Riggs
Lifetime Achievement Award
For Distinguished Leadership and Lifetime Excellence in Coastal Research, Science, and Stewardship
For more than six decades, Dr. Stan Riggs has been one of North Carolina’s most influential coastal scientists, educators, and conservation advocates. As Professor Emeritus of Geology at East Carolina University, he has dedicated his career to advancing our understanding of the dynamic coastal systems that shape our state. Through groundbreaking research, influential publications, and decades of public outreach, Dr. Riggs has transformed the way scientists, policymakers, and coastal communities understand shoreline processes, sea-level rise, and the importance of working with nature rather than against it. His lifelong commitment to making science accessible continues with the publication of Cape Lookout National Seashore: Paradigm for a Coastal System Ethic, the first in a trilogy exploring North Carolina’s southern Outer Banks and sharing the knowledge gained through more than 60 years of research, observation, and a deep appreciation for the people and landscapes of our coast. His extraordinary vision and enduring leadership have created a lasting legacy for future generations.
Photo Courtesy of the North Carolina Office of the Governor
To learn more about the Pelican Awards and past winners: