Volunteers Honored for Contributions to State Parks
Volunteers are vital to California State Parks. The first volunteers served in our parks more than 100 years ago, and today, more than 30,000 dedicated volunteers contribute nearly 800,000 hours annually. Volunteers help in dozens of ways through their work in interpretive programs, as camp hosts, in visitor centers, in natural and cultural resource protection, on public safety patrols, and much, much more!
While all volunteers are valued, some are singled out annually for exemplary service by the Director and the districts in which they serve.
In 2025, California State Parks honored 69 volunteers for their service through the presentation of Poppy and Medallion Awards.
A total of 16 volunteers were presented with Medallion Awards for Superior Achievement, the highest honor, to individual volunteers or teams of volunteers who made a significant contribution towards the mission and goal of the Department worthy of recognition by the California State Parks Director. Poppy Awards for Exemplary Volunteer Service were presented to 53 volunteers for significant contributions to the betterment of Parks.
These award programs are year-round opportunities to recognize Parks’ most exemplary volunteers. Thank you for all our hard working and devoted volunteers.
The 2025 awardees are as follows:
Medallion Award:
Dave Brubaker – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Suzanne Clark – Adamson House (Malibu Lagoon SB)
Ted and Mimi Coulton – Morro Bay SB and Morro Strand SB
Linda Fisher – Sonoma Coast SP
Henry Cowell Fuel Reduction Team – Henry Cowell Redwoods SP
Stephen Hill – Mount Diablo SP
Norma Jellison – Sonoma Coast SP
Kathy Julian – Malibu Creek SP
Dennis Kessler – South Carlsbad SB
Diana King – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Lindy Perez – Monterey SHP
Ken Pywell – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Linda Rath – Point Sur SHP
Michael Roa – Armstrong Redwoods SNR
Bob and Ora Sebald – South Carlsbad SB
Carol Toyama – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Poppy Award:
Dottie Acker – Santa Susana Pass SHP
Stephanie Balz – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Nancie Barker – Wilder Ranch SP
Mark Beesken – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Pete and Pat Benoy – San Elijo SB
Cliff Bernie – Wilder Ranch SP
Dana and Dave Black – San Elijo SB
Ian and Kathy Blackwood – Wilder Ranch SP
Donna Blohowiak – Point Lobos SNR
Mike and Elena Bloxton – South Carlsbad SB
Ken Bright – San Elijo SB
Bob Brown – Año Nuevo SP
Phil and Pam Brust – South Carlsbad SB
Kat Campbell – Malibu Creek SP
Joan Cochrane – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Eileen Conway – Torrey Pines SNR
Jim David – Elephant Seal Docent Program (Hearst San Simeon SP)
Dave Dunlevy – Tijuana Estuary NP Point of Interest
Kathy and Bud Eaton – San Elijo SB
Dennis England – Mount Diablo SP
Susan England – Mount Diablo SP
Kim Forsberg – Point Lobos SNR
Mariana Goebel – Adamson House (Malibu Lagoon SB)
Gayl Grotewold – San Elijo SB
Pete and Nancy Hardy – South Carlsbad SB
Patty Haskell – Calaveras Big Trees SP
Breta Holgers – Wilder Ranch SP
Amber Howard – Malibu Creek SP
Mary Krucik – Sutter’s Fort SHP
Mike Lawton – Van Damme SP
Jaylee Love – South Carlsbad SB
Victor and Martha Maldonado – South Carlsbad SB
Mary Ann Mankins – San Elijo SB
Randall McClune – Castro Adobe SHP
Steve and Joan Mulcare – South Carlsbad SB
Christopher Ng – Interpretation and Education Division
Louie Perez – Monterey SHP
Laurie Prothro – Austin Creek SRA
Dan Ruyl – San Elijo SB
Mary Lou Saeby – Adamson House (Malibu Lagoon SB)
Dan Sandri – Mount Diablo SP
Randy and Lois Shirk – South Carlsbad SB
Ann Smith-Mercandetti – Torrey Pines SNR
Shari Stock – San Elijo SB
Jeanie Sturges – Point Sur SHP
Andrea Sward – Least Tern Program (Orange Coast District)
Josie and Eugene Tanis – Calaveras Big Trees SP
Terry Tanner – Santa Susana Pass SHP
Marion Towar – Wilder Ranch SP
Alison Turner – Año Nuevo SP
John Walker – Castro Adobe SHP
Tooky and Gail Wisener – South Carlsbad SB
Corey Wylde – Least Tern Program (Orange Coast District)
While volunteers are most often presented with these awards at their park or district’s annual volunteer recognition events, volunteers can be nominated and awarded at any time, by any Department employee. To nominate a volunteer, send a completed and signed nomination form (DPR 208I [Medallion Award Nomination] or DPR 208J [Poppy Award Nomination]) to Rachel Young, Volunteers in Park Program Specialist at Rachel.Young@parks.ca.gov.
Lists of past years’ awardees: