Volunteer and Partnership Award Recipients
The strength of the ATA comes from the passion and dedication of its members, volunteers and partners. Each year at the Annual Meeting, ATA Staff and Board Members award individuals who’s service and commitment has had a significant impact on the Arizona Trail.
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
2023
Jan Hancock
Jan Hancock
Lifetime Achievement Award 2023
With appreciation for your decades of service to support the mission and vision of the Arizona Trail Association, and to help build the Arizona Trail into a world class resource that positively impacts the lives of all who experience it.
Mark Flint
Mark Flint
Lifetime Achievement Award 2023
With appreciation for your decades of service to support the mission and vision of the Arizona Trail Association, and to help build the Arizona Trail into a world class resource that positively impacts the lives of all who experience it.
Ali Ayers
Ali Ayers
Outstanding Agency Partner Award 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail on the North Kaibab Ranger District.
Angie Abel
Angie Abel
Outstanding Agency Partner Award 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail on the Payson Ranger District.
Charles Neal
Charles Neal and VETS Coordinator Michael “Chappy” Chappell
Trail Advocacy & Conservation Award 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail
John Yazzie
John Yazzie, Jr.
Outstanding Stewardship 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving Passage 31 of the Arizona National Scenic Trail
Alex Derr
Alex Derr
Outstanding Stewardship 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving Passage 23 of the Arizona National Scenic Trail
Jane Hiscox
Jane Hiscox
Outstanding Volunteer 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail and being an exemplary representative of the trail community
Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown and Volunteer Prog. Mgr. Wendy Lotze
Outstanding Volunteer 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail and being an exemplary representative of the trail community
Steve Linton
Steve Linton (center) with ATA Staff members Olivia Woods and Rosi Green
Outstanding Volunteer 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail and being an exemplary representative of the trail community
Kathleen Bober
Kathleen Bober
Outstanding Volunteer 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona
National Scenic Trail and supporting a variety of activities that benefit the trail and trail community.
Gordon Hall
Gordon Hall
Outstanding Volunteer 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail and being an exemplary representative of the trail community
Armando “Mando” Gonzales
Outstanding Volunteer 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail
Matt and Maria Moore
Matt and Maria Moore
Outstanding Volunteers 2023
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail and being an exemplary representative of the trail community
2020
Steve Anderson and Jan Hancock
Steve Anderson
Lifetime Achievement Award 2020
With profound appreciation for your 25 years of service to the Arizona Trail Association. Your leadership and vision have significantly contributed to the Arizona National Scenic Trail and all the lives it enriches.
Brady VanDragt
Brady VanDragt
Agency Partner Award 2020
With gratitude for your commitment to improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District through support of the Happy Jack Singletrack Project. Our greatest enhancement to the Arizona Trail would not have happened without you.
Rose Harley and Rob Mason
Rose Harley
Agency Partner Award 2020
With gratitude for your commitment to improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District through support of the Happy Jack Singletrack Project. Our greatest enhancement to the Arizona Trail would not have happened without you.
Toyota Tacoma donated by Valley Toyota Dealers
Jay Carley & Valley Toyota Dealers
Business Partner Award 2020
With appreciation for your outstanding support of the Arizona Trail Association. Your generous donations over the past eight years support our mission to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the land.
Atlas Guides
Business Partner Award 2020
With gratitude for your support of the Arizona Trail Association through development of the single most effective navigational and public information resource for those who hike, run and ride on the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Mountain Bike Association of Arizona
Legacy Partner Award 2020
With appreciation for your many years of generous support of the Arizona Trail Association and our mission to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the land. With your help we continually improve the AZT as a world class resource for two-wheeled adventurers
Rodo Sofranac and Susan Lagerman
Rodo Sofranac
Trailblazer Award 2020
With gratitude for your passion to help promote the Arizona National Scenic Trail, encourage youth to explore this wonderful natural resource and become its stewards, and for motivating others to give generously and raise funds in support of our mission.
Daniel Snyder, Steve Anderson and Wendy Lotze
Daniel Snyder
Outstanding Stewardship Award 2020
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in supporting the Arizona Trail Association. Your involvement in the Trail Steward, Trail Operations & Seeds of Stewardship programs are vital to the success of the organization and have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of all those who spend time on the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Tasha Pontifex
Tasha Pontifex
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2020
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail, and for being an exemplary steward and representative of the Arizona Trail Association.
2019
Francisco Valenzuela and Pablo Burghard
Pablo Burghard
Lifetime Achievement Award 2019
With profound appreciation for your many years of service to the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Your leadership, vision and belief in the conservation corps model has significantly contributed to the Arizona Trail and all the lives it enriches.
Kent Taylor and Jana Randall
Jana Randall & REI Co-op
Legacy Partner Award 2019
With appreciation for your years of outstanding support of the Arizona Trail Association’s Trail Operations, Volunteer & Youth Outreach programs. We couldn’t fulfill our mission to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail without you!
Brandee Lepak
Brandee Lepak
Outstanding Youth Partner Award 2019
With appreciation for your support of the Gear Girls program and your dedication to excellence in youth cycling and outdoor leadership in Arizona. Your commitment to providing opportunities to the young women of Northern Arizona helps inspire the next generation of outdoor leaders and stewards of our trails and public lands.
Susan Lagerman and Brady VanDragt
Brady VanDragt
Outstanding Agency Partner Award 2019
With appreciation for your unwavering support of the Happy Jack Singletrack Project on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, and your genuine love for the Arizona Trail.
Jan Hancock and Roger Smith
Roger Smith
Outstanding Stewardship Award 2019
With gratitude for your time, talent & passion to help protect, maintain, and enhance the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Your commitment to the spring restoration project in the Mazatzal Mountains will be remembered for generations.
Kent Taylor and Donovan Wood
Donovan Wood
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2019
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Terry Higbee
Terry Higbee
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2019
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in supporting the Arizona Trail Association’s volunteer program – a core component in maintaining and sustaining the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Sandy Fortner
Sandy Fortner
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2019
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in supporting the trail community on the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
2018
Larry Snead and Bernie Stalmann
Bernie Stalmann
Lifetime Achievement Award 2018
With profound appreciation for your many years of service to the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Your leadership, vision and energy have significantly contributed to the development of the trail and the success of the organization.
Gary Faulkenberry
Gary Faulkenberry
Outstanding Partner Award 2018
With appreciation for your support of trail improvement projects, volunteerism and special events within Oracle State Park.
Kinsey 5th Grade Team
Outstanding Youth Partner Award 2018
With appreciation for your support of the Seeds of Stewardship program and your dedication to excellence in place-based & experiential education within the Flagstaff Unified School District. Your commitment to providing opportunities to the youth of Northern Arizona helps inspire the next generation of stewards of public lands.
Steve & Anna Coleman
Outstanding Youth Partner Award 2018
With appreciation for your support of the Seeds of Stewardship program and your dedication to excellence in place-based & experiential education within the community of Patagonia. Your commitment to providing opportunities to the youth of Southern Arizona helps inspire the next generation of stewards of public lands.
Bill Hiscox
Bill Hiscox
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2018
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Rob Mason and Richard Duerden
Richard Duerden
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2018
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Ellen Shopes and Larry Smikins
Ellen Shopes & Larry Simkins
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2018
With gratitude for your outstanding contributions to the Arizona Trail Association through volunteerism, photography, outreach & general love for the AZT.
Rob Bauer
Rob Bauer
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2018
With gratitude for your time, talent & passion to help protect, maintain, and enhance the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
2017
Larry Snead
Lifetime Achievement Award 2017
With profound appreciation for your many years of service to the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Your leadership, vision and energy have significantly contributed to the development of the trail and the success of the organization.
Eric Hiser
Outstanding Leadership Award 2017
With gratitude for your many years of leadership in helping the Arizona Trail Association fulfill its mission to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona National Scenic Trail as a unique encounter with the land.
Sean Murphy
Outstanding Partner Award 2017
With appreciation for your support of the Seeds of Stewardship program. Your commitment to providing opportunities to the youth of Northern Arizona helps to inspire the next generation of stewards of public lands.
Mila Besich-Lira
Community Partner Award 2017
With appreciation for your outstanding support of the Arizona National Scenic Trail in Superior and the Copper Corridor Communities.
Roger Smith
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2017
With appreciation for your extraordinary efforts in maintaining and improving the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Matthew Roberts and Mark Loseth
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2017
With gratitude for your outstanding contributions to the Trail Skills Institute and the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
2016
Pioneer Title Agency
Outstanding Partner Award 2016
With profound appreciation for including the Arizona Trail in your 30th anniversary celebration and accomplishing the amazing goals of covering every mile of trail and raising over $45,000 to support the maintenance and protection of the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Steve Anderson and Pima County
Trail Safety Award 2016
With profound appreciation for your commitment to the safety of Arizona Trail users along the Rincon Valley Passage of the Arizona National Scenic Trail through the installation of a railroad canopy, road signs and user-activated signal near Three Bridges.
Jim & Carol McFadden
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2016
With profound appreciation for being outstanding representatives of the Gateway Community of Flagstaff, Arizona Trail Day Organizers, Trail Stewards and numerous other contributions to the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Andrea Michaels
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2016
For your dedication and determination in maintaining and protecting the Arizona National Scenic Trail your contributions as a Trail Steward, Trainer, Presenter, Fundraiser, Advocate & Stalwart Enthusiast are appreciated by all who are fortunate to have worked with you, and countless others you may never have met but whose lives are positively affected by your love for the Arizona Trail.
John Matteson
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2016
For your dedication and determination in maintaining and protecting the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Craig Gregory
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2016
For your dedication and determination in maintaining and protecting the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Elisabeth Wheeler
Outstanding Volunteer Award 2016
For your dedication and determination in maintaining and protecting the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
