Page 26 - March April 2026 Vol 43 No 7

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION
Call for GESA Awards Nominations

Each year, the Governor’s We need your help. If you feel like an will make time to nominate deserving
Environmental Stewardship Awards individual or group would be a good Tennesseans for their environmental
honor outstanding accomplishments that candidate for the awards, direct them commitment, efforts, and achievements.
support the protection and enhancement to the nomination forms and other Thank you for supporting this
of Tennessee’s natural resources. pertinent information on our website. important statewide program.
Nominating an individual, group, or The Tennessee Department of
organization for their achievements is a Environment and Conservation is Kathy Glapa
meaningful way to promote conservation encouraged that so many citizens and Office of Sustainable
and recognize effective environmental organizations take action to ensure Practices
leadership in Tennessee. Tennessee communities are healthy 615-253-8780
Nominations are currently being places to live, work, and play. I hope you Kathy.Glapa@tn.gov
accepted for the 2025 Governor’s
Environmental Stewardship Awards,
and I am asking you to draw on your GOVERNOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL
knowledge and experience to help us
identify organizations and individuals STEWARDSHIP AWARDS
who are improving the quality of
Tennessee’s land, air, and water. The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards
The Governor’s Environmental (GESA) are presented annually to recognize outstanding
Stewardship Awards include ten achievements by individuals, local governments, businesses,
categories: organizations, educational institutions, and agencies
1. Agriculture and Forestry for successful environmental projects and conservation
2. Building Green measures. The awards program was instituted in 1986 by Ernie Blankenship of the
3. Clean Air and Transportation Tennessee Department of Environment and Health, a predecessor of TDEC, and has
Solutions been adopted by the Governor’s office as one of its award programs.
4. Energy and Renewable Resources GESA are designed to enhance knowledge and awareness of effective conservation
5. Environmental Education and and environmental practices and projects making outstanding contributions to the
Outreach preservation and protection of community and state natural resources, and to give
6. Materials Management proper recognition to those who engage in these outstanding practices.
7. Natural Resource The awards also encourage leadership by example through its winners, leading to
8. Water Quality increased protection and conservation of Tennessee’s wildlife, forests, soils, air, water,
9. Sustainable Performance natural heritage, parks, and recreation.
10. Lifetime Achievement Applications are judged in nine different criteria areas, including such items as
Any individual, business, organization, project results and transferability, as well as three eligibility areas: location within the
educational institution, or agency is state of Tennessee, completion of a majority of the project in the current calendar
eligible, provided it is in Tennessee year, and three years of exceptional environmental compliance with TDEC.
and the project was fully implemented GESA are the state’s most prestigious environmental and conservation awards.
and/or finalized in the two years prior For over 35 years, the awards have been presented to individuals and organizations
to December 31, 2025, or for long- making significant contributions to the protection and improvement of our natural
term projects finalized by the year resources and wildlife. The awards support the Governor’s priorities of Job and
prior to the nomination deadline. Economic Development and Health and Welfare, while also supporting TDEC
All nominees must have a minimum priorities of Public/Private Partnerships and Positive Environmental Outcomes.
of three consecutive years of overall The 2025 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award recipients were:
environmental compliance with TDEC. Cul2vate Agriculture and Forestry
Self-nominations are encouraged.
A panel of judges representing Arrows Mine Site Natural Resources
agricultural, conservation, forestry, Metro Nashville Dept. of Gen. Services Building Green
environmental, and academic The White Pine Solar Project Energy and Renewable Resources
professionals will select award recipients Tennessee Smart Yards Environmental Education and Outreach
based on criteria including level of project Copperhill Industries, LLC Water Quality
or program completion, innovation, Waste Management Materials Management
and public education. The deadline for The Elephant Sanctuary (TES) Sustainable Performance
nominations is March 13, 2026. Award Averitt Clean Air and Transportation Solutions
recipients will be announced in the
summer of 2026. Ernest Howard Whitaker Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement
26 TPW March/April 2026