Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:
- Advance or support the county's environmental goals and policy statements
- Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
- Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others
Learn about Award Winners
The 2024 Environmental Excellence Awardees include a Dark Sky advocate who promotes efforts to reduce light pollution, a high school senior who started her own nonprofit organization to train other youth climate champions, three county employees working on waste reduction and plastic pollution initiatives, and a community association dedicated to preserving natural habitats for its residents.
The 2024 Environmental Excellence Awardees are:
Individual County Resident Category
Eileen Kragie, founder, Dark Sky Friends. Eileen has done frequent light pollution education, outreach, and event support, including launching the DarkSky NOVA chapter and supporting Space Day at George Mason University. She has been active in changing local lighting legislation and advocating for proclamations in support of International Dark Sky Week. Eileen also coordinated the first ever FireFly and BatFest events at Wolf Trap.
Arielle Kouyoumdjian, a youth climate activist and senior at the Potomac School. Arielle established a non-profit organization called Changing Planet Justice Foundation, whose mission is to empower youth to speak out, share their stories, and inspire action within their communities and beyond. As executive director, she hosts a monthly podcast and has developed tool kits and activity options for youth between the ages of 5 and 18 to help them become effective advocates for sustainability and climate justice.
County Employee Category
Kirsten Buchner, public outreach and engagement specialist, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Kirsten developed and implemented a bus shelter advertising program for the Solid Waste Management Program that focused on reaching minority populations. The advertising campaign was centered on the Richmond Highway Corridor and generated 1.7 million weekly impressions.
Caroline Hockenberry, coordinator, and Elizabeth (Liza) Moore, marketing and outreach coordinator, Fairfax County Park Authority Farmers Markets. Caroline and Liza have partnered with Clean Fairfax to eliminate single-use plastic bags from the county’s farmers markets. Caroline and Liza have also enhanced the sustainability of the markets by promoting the drop-off compost collection program, which last year collected 120,000 pounds of customer drop-off food scraps for compost.
Organization and Business Category
Hickory Farms Community Association, Braddock District. The association has been active in preserving and enhancing more than 10 acres of wooded, riparian habitat along Rabbit Run, as well as more than 10 acres of urban open space within the community. The association has carried out a program of Resource Protection Area protection and stream remediation. In addition, the association installed an 18-unit Purple Martin colony and established a Bluebird trail consisting of ten boxes which has yielded a significant number of Bluebird fledglings.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in 2025.
For more information, including a list of past winners, please click below.
The Environmental Excellence Awards are granted in up to four categories: Individual/County Resident, Organization, Business, and County Employee.
Individual Award: Elisabeth Lardner
County Employee Award: Dr. Katherine Edwards
County Employee Award: Brandy Mueller
Individual Award: Debra Ann Jacobson (posthumous)
Individual Award: Jennifer Pradas
Individual Award: Senator Scott Surovell
Organization Award: Reston Community Center
County Employee Award: Suzanne Foster
County Employee Award: Sarah King
Individual Award: Sara Holtz
Individual Award: Delegate Mark Keam
Individual Award: Meghan Walker
Business Award: Freddie Mac
County Employee Award: Vickie Anglin
Individual Award: Catherine Ledec
Individual Award: Helen Stevens
Organization Award: Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Organization Award: Reston Annual State of the Environment (RASER) Working Group
County Employee Award: James Hart
County Employee Award: Noel Kaplan
Individual Award: Jennifer Cole
Individual Award: Betsy Martin and Paul Siegel
Organization Award: Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts
County Employee Award: Sally Carter
County Employee Award: Judy Fincham and Danielle Wynne
Individual Award: Glenda Booth
Individual Award: Jim McGlone
Organization Award: Mason Neck Lions Club
Organization Award: McLean Citizens Association's Environment, Parks, and Recreation Committee and Churchill Road Elementary School
Business Award: The MITRE Corporation
County Employee Award: Robert Aaront
County Employee Award: Kambiz Agazi
Individual Award: John Houser
Individual Award: Randy Sayles
Organization Award: ReBuild Warehouse
Organization Award: Town of Vienna Community Enhancement Commission
Business Award: Booz Allen Hamilton
Business Award: Freddie Mac
County Employee Award: Katherine Edwards
County Resident Award: Duane DeBruyne
County Resident Award: Stephen Robinson
Organization Award: Friends of Accotink Creek
Organization Award: McLean Trees Foundation
County Resident Award: John DeNoyer and Ann Csonka (posthumous)
Organization Award: Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, George Mason University
Business Award: Davis, Carter, Scott Ltd
Business Award: Guernsey Office Products
County Employee Award: Joyce Doughty
County Resident Award: Alan Ford
Organization Award: Herndon Environmental Network
Business Award: Burgundy Farm Country Day School
Business Award: Potomac Vegetable Farms
County Employee Award: Sean Duffy
County Employee Award: Randall G. Miller
County Resident Award: Elaine Tholen
County Resident Award: Betsy Washington
Organization Award: ServiceSource
Business Award: Walker's Grill
County Employee Award: Ron Tuttle
Organization Award: Fairfax County Restoration Project
Organization Award: Fairfax County Department of Vehicle Services
County Resident Award: Maureen Goble
Business Award: Project Performance Corporation
County Employee Award: Meghan Fellows
Organization Award: Earth Sangha
Business Award: Allen Wayne, Ltd.
County Employee Award: Carl Sivertsen
County Resident Award: Chet McLaren
Organization Award: Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter Project Management Team
Business Award: "Jack-the-Ripper" Certified Arborists, Inc.
County Resident Award: Scott Birdwell
County Resident Award: Eleanor Quigley and Penelope Firth
Organization Award: Great Falls Citizens Association
Organization Award: Invasive Management Area Volunteers
County Employee Award: Judy Fincham
County Resident Award: Ken Andrews
Organization Award: Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District
Business Award: Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
County Employee Award: Janet Rahman
County Resident Award: Ned Foster
Organization Award: Reston Association
County Resident Award: Joseph M. Chudzik
Organization Award: Students Against Global Abuse (SAGA)
County Employee Award: Noel H. Kaplan
County Resident Award: Charlie Creighton
Organization Award: Hickory Farms Community Association
County Resident Award: Chris Koerner
Organization Award: Bailey's Beautification Alliance
County Resident Award: Norma Hoffman
Organization Award: Friends of Sugarland Run
County Employee Award: Gary Roisum