Anchorage, Alaska – August 1, 2025 – Alaska Conservation Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Alaska Conservation Achievement Awards, a yearly tradition that uplifts those working to ensure Alaska’s lands, waters, and communities remain resilient for generations to come.
This year’s honorees span generations, geographies, and disciplines—from a young leader building climate campaigns in Anchorage, to a lifelong advocate for Tribal sovereignty in the Village of Solomon, to public servants whose careers helped shape modern conservation policy in Alaska and beyond.
“These awardees represent the heart of Alaska’s conservation movement—people who lead with integrity, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to the places and communities that define our state,” said Michael Barber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Conservation Foundation. “Each of them reminds us that conservation is not a single path, but a collective journey—carried forward by teachers, artists, organizers, and decision-makers alike.”
The awardees will be honored at the 2025 Conservation Achievement Awards Ceremony on Thursday, September 25, at 6:00 PM at the Anchorage Museum. The evening will gather conservation leaders, partners, and supporters to celebrate the honorees and reflect on the work ahead. Join us, along with your friends and colleagues, in celebrating these remarkable individuals and honoring the entire Alaska conservation community.
Meet the 2025 Awardees
Lifetime Achievement Awards:
Fran Ulmer – A trailblazer in Alaska politics and a national leader on Arctic policy, Ulmer’s five-decade career includ her early work in Governor Jay Hammond’s administration—where she earned a reputation as its conservation conscience—to her leadership on the Alaska Coastal Management Program, Ulmer has consistently prioritized sustainable land and resource decisions. She brought that same focus to elected office, national commissions, and boardrooms, including as Chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and global board chair of The Nature Conservancy.
Pat Pourchot – A lifelong public servant and advocate for Alaska’s public lands, Pourchot came to the state in 1972 to study rivers for wild and scenic designation—launching a decades-long conservation career. He worked on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act as a U.S. Senate aide and later served in the Alaska Legislature, as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, and as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior. He also held roles at Audubon Alaska, Great Land Trust, and Alaska Conservation Foundation, and continues to support conservation through board service and trail work.
Olaus Murie Award for Outstanding Professional Contributions:
Dave Mitchell – A driving force behind over 65 land conservation projects across Southcentral Alaska, Mitchell has helped protect thousands of acres of salmon habitat while mentoring a generation of conservation leaders.
Celia Hunter Award for Outstanding Volunteer Contributions:
Nancy Waterman – A civic powerhouse in Juneau, Waterman has spent more than 40 years advancing environmental education, recycling, public land policy, and local science initiatives through tireless volunteer work.
Denny Wilcher Award for Young Environmental Activists:
Kai Thomas – A youth organizer with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, Thomas has led peer-led advocacy on food justice and climate, empowering fellow teens across Alaska to take action in their own communities.
Lowell Thomas Jr. Award for Outstanding Achievements by an Organization:
Copper River Watershed Project – Based in Cordova, CRWP has spent more than 25 years restoring salmon habitat, advancing sustainable economies, and building youth engagement in the Copper River region through hands-on, community-based conservation.
Jerry S. Dixon Award for Excellence in Environmental Education
Nan Eagleson – A beloved naturalist and teacher in Denali and beyond, Eagleson has spent four decades helping people connect with the boreal forest and subarctic ecosystems through stories, science, and field-based education.
Daniel Housberg Wilderness Image Award for Photography, Film, or Video:
Gerrit Vyn – A filmmaker and photographer with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Vyn’s visual work—most recently the award-winning film Izembek—has shaped national awareness around Alaska’s wilderness and the wildlife that depend on it.
Caleb Pungowiyi Award for Outstanding Achievements by an Alaska Native Organization or Individual:
Deilah Johnson – As Environmental Coordinator for the Village of Solomon, Johnson led a successful grassroots campaign to stop a proposed dredge mine in Safety Sound, protecting sensitive coastal habitat and upholding Tribal sovereignty.
About the Awards
First launched in 1986, the Alaska Conservation Achievement Awards recognize individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions to the protection of Alaska’s environment and cultural heritage. Award categories honor lifetime service, grassroots leadership, environmental education, media, youth activism, and professional conservation efforts.
Join Us
To attend the 2025 Conservation Achievement Awards, learn more about the recipients, or support Alaska Conservation Foundation, visit: www.alaskaconservation.org/community-resources/achievement-awards/tickets/.
Media Contact:
Sophie Komornicki
Director of Communications & Storytelling
skomornicki@alaskaconservation.org
