BLM recognizes 2025 Community Engagement Award winners

Congratulations to the recipients of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 2025 Community Engagement Awards! These annual awards honor exceptional contributions to BLM’s community engagement programs in Education, Interpretation, Partnerships, Volunteers, and Youth.

These individuals and groups are making a lasting difference on public lands and in their communities through conservation, stewardship, and public service. Their efforts connect people to BLM-managed landscapes, deepen appreciation for shared stewardship, and promote safe, responsible engagement with public lands.

Read about some of the 2025 winners’ remarkable achievements below. 

Excellence in Interpretation Award

Justin O'Dell and Sydney Tuiofea, Red Rock / Sloan Field Office, Nevada

Justin O'Dell and Sydney Tuiofea created a powerful documentary honoring Everett Pikyavit, a Paiute basket maker and artist-in-residence at Red Rock Canyon. They filmed  Pikyavit’s story on the Moapa Reservation and during hospice care, preserving his cultural legacy despite his declining health. The film fostered engagement between Tribal members and the public, highlighting the cultural significance of Red Rock Canyon through Everett’s art and story.

This project helped BLM promote inclusive storytelling, elevate Tribal voices, and encourage stewardship of cultural resources. 

Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award

Carrin Rich, Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Office, New Mexico

Carrin Rich led a major cave restoration initiative at Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, organizing volunteer teams to clean formations in BLM’s largest cave system. Under her leadership, hundreds of square feet of flowstone and stalagmites were restored, revealing beauty unseen for over a century. She managed permitting, logistics, training, youth outreach, and reporting while contributing hundreds of hours herself.

Rich’s efforts helped BLM preserve natural and historic resources for the enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Outstanding Volunteer Group Award

San Rafael Back Country Horsemen of Utah, Price Field Office, Utah

The San Rafael Back Country Horsemen dedicate hundreds of hours annually to trail maintenance, campground improvements, and public education in the San Rafael Swell. In 2025, they improved trail access along the San Rafael River, installed new signage at Swinging Bridge Equestrian Campground, supported Off Highway Vehicle projects, and enhanced day-use areas for hikers, among other volunteer projects. Their success in securing grants and leading outreach reflects a deep commitment to multi-use recreation and stewardship.

The San Rafael Back Country Horsemen helped BLM promote sustainable recreation, foster stewardship, and enhance public lands access for diverse users. 

Partnership Excellence Award

Friends of the Cross Bar Special Recreation Management Area, Oklahoma Field Office

The Friends of Cross Bar transformed the visibility and public appreciation of the BLM’s Cross Bar Special Recreation Management Area, located just north of Amarillo, Texas, through stewardship, programming, and outreach. They hosted volunteer events, guided tours, and “Cross Bar Trails Days,” introducing thousands to the area’s ecological and cultural value. By securing over $12 million in funding, they enabled critical infrastructure improvements and habitat restoration that would not have been possible through federal resources alone.

This Friends group helped BLM expand public access, promote conservation, and foster inclusive engagement with public lands at the Cross Bar, the only BLM-managed surface estate in Texas. 

Youth Corps Internship Award

Nomi Sherman, Taos Field Office, New Mexico  

Nomi Sherman demonstrated leadership in botany and native seed conservation by working to restore habitats across northern New Mexico. She led efforts to identify and ethically collect native plant species vital to climate resilience, often partnering with Tribal communities to integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge. She also offered mentorship and training programs to emerging conservationists, empowering shared management and strengthening community ties to the land.

Sherman’s work helped BLM improve restoration outcomes and build a culturally-grounded and community-based approach to conservation. 

Youth Corps Crew Award

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, California State Office

Crew Leader: Brenden Sturgill Crew: Trey Flores, Ava van Pelt, Kathryn Marini, Skylar Bradsby, Ashley Farrington, Brenden Sturgill, Dylan Goldstein, Laurel McKellar  

The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps crew completed conservation projects across eight California locations, removing invasive species, restoring native habitats, and improving trails. They also cleared debris from sensitive desert ecosystems and improved trail infrastructure from the California coast to the Sierra foothills. These projects enhanced ecological health, increased public access, and preserved the natural character of high-use recreation areas across the state.

The Corps’ work helped BLM promote sustainable recreation, protect resources, and foster public stewardship. 

Excellence in Education Award

Stacey Moore, National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Wyoming

Stacey Moore has built a sustainable model for youth engagement by creating and managing a long-standing student docent program at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Now in its 15th year, the program immerses fourth through 12th grade students in the history of Westward expansion and the stewardship of public lands through hands-on learning and public speaking opportunities. By connecting historical narratives with modern conservation concepts, Moore fosters academic growth, civic responsibility, and a lasting appreciation for public lands among young participants.

Moore's work helped BLM promote public understanding, responsible use, and long-term stewardship of shared public lands.

Community Engagement Legacy Award

Theresa Jefferson, Lower Potomac Field Station, Eastern States

Theresa Jefferson has significantly enhanced public understanding and appreciation of public lands through her tireless work as a BLM Environmental Education Specialist at the Lower Potomac Field Station in Virginia. In the past year alone, she participated in more than 200 outreach events, reaching more than 25,000 people — many of them youth who might not otherwise have had access to outdoor education. Her programs connect young learners to nature, spark curiosity about public lands, and build lasting enthusiasm for environmental stewardship.

Jefferson’s efforts helped BLM foster the next generation of public land stewards and raise awareness of BLM-managed lands located in the East.