Recognizing past, present, and future Conservation Leaders in the Quad City Region



SAVE THE DATE

March 6, 2027 | 9:00AM - 12:00PM
The Bend Event Center | East Moline, IL

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Join us for our 8th Annual Oberholtzer Awards


Next year's event takes place on March 6, 2027 from 9:00AM - 12:00PM.


Join us for a morning of great food, conversation, fundraising, and celebrating excellence in the field of conservation!


Tickets will be available at a later date!


About

Nahant Marsh’s Oberholtzer Awards were started to recognize local people who have dedicated their lives (or will dedicate their lives) to protecting our natural world. Often times these people go unnoticed, or have been largely forgotten for their contributions. The awards are a way to recognize their hard work and leadership in conservation, to bring awareness to the causes they believe in, and to inspire others to take action.


The awards are named for Ernest Carl “Ober” Oberholtzer, a Davenport, Iowa native, Harvard-educated explorer who was a founding member of the Wilderness Society. He was instrumental in protecting the wilderness and lakes of Northern Minnesota. Mr. Oberholtzer died on June 6, 1977, in International Falls, Minnesota, and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport. To learn more about Oberholtzer’s life, click here.

Nominations

Nominations for 2026 are CLOSED. Please check back later for 2027 nominations.


Nominations will be considered from the following counties:


IOWA:

• Clinton

• Louisa

• Muscatine

• Scott


ILLINOIS:

• Henry

• Mercer

• Rock Island

• Whiteside


To be considered, a nominee must have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following categories:

  • Conservation Science and Education
  • Stewardship of Natural Areas
  • Environmental Advocacy

Thank you to 2026's sponsors

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

BPS Electric

DuTrac Community Credit Union

Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Iowa PBS

Living Lands and Waters

Modern Woodmen of America

Quad City Audubon Society

Rockingham Hollow Farm, LLC

Sierra Club - Eagle View Group

Vibrant Credit Union

Waste Commission of Scott County

  • Thank You to 2026's In-Kind Donors

    Bela

    Bettendorf Family Museum

    Big River Bowling

    Big River Magazine

    Blevins Wild Bird Shop

    Chicago Bears

    Chris Barnard

    City of Bettendorf Parks and Rec

    Crane & Pelican

    Dead Poet's Espresso

    Denise Bulat

    Elevate Trampoline Park

    Eve's Garden & Greenhouse

    Figge Art Museum

    Five Cities Brewing

    Fleet Feet

    Float QC

    G's Gourmet Popcorn

    Isabel Bloom

    Jim & Chanda Massengale

    Julie Malake

    Kent Turner

    Lagomarcinos

    LeClaire Olive Oil Company

    Liv Humphrey

    Livewell Chiro

    Me & Billy

    Pour Bros Carft Taproom

    Putnam Museum

    Quad City Botanical Center

    RAYGUN

    Rust Belt

    Salon Halo

    Soar n Bounce

    Stompbox Brewing

    The Fun Station

    Tina's Dance Studio

    Tom & Brooke Nagle

    Total Detailing Auto Spa

    Townsquare Media

    Viking

    Visit Quad Cities

    Wallaces Garden Center

    Whitey's Ice Cream

    Wide River Winery

    Wild birds unlimited

    X-Golf

    Zero Waste Reserve


Past Award Recipients 

  • 2019

    Ernest C. Oberholtzer

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Curtis Lundy

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Aislinn Geedey

    2019 Recipient for Future Conservation Leadership

  • 2020

    Sylvan Runkel

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Bob Bryant

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Kristina Shelman & Anna Schmidt

    Recipients for Future Conservation Leadership

  • 2022

    Mark Beorkrem

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Marilyn Andress

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Emma Duncan

    Recipient for Future Conservation Leadership


    Ann Werner

    Honorary Recipient for Conservation Leadership in Agriculture and Land Stewardship


    Alma Gaul

    Honorary Recipient for Conservation Leadership in Media

  • 2023

    Elton Fawks

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Mark Roberts

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Nicolina Pappas

    Recipient for Future Conservation Leadership

  • 2024

    James Haring

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Glenn Drowns

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Cade Meek

    Recipient for Future Conservation Leadership

  • 2025

    Jerry Neff

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Tammy Becker

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Dillan Tholin

    Recipient for Future Conservation Leadership


    Kathy Wine

    Recipient for Nahant Achievement

  • 2026

    Pete Petersen

    Recipient for Past Conservation Leadership


    Rich Stewart

    Recipient for Present Conservation Leadership


    Charlie Edwards

    Recipient for Future Conservation Leadership