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


March 8, 2025 | 9:00AM - 12:00PM

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Join us for our 6th Annual Oberholtzer Awards

This year's event takes place on March 8, 2025 from 9:00AM - 12:00PM at The Bend Event Center in East Moline, IL. A buffet style brunch (vegetarian options available) will be served accompanied by live music from Lydia Nosbisch of Heavenly Harps, followed by the awards ceremony, fund-a-cause, raffles, and a live auction.

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.

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

Nominations

Nominations for 2025 are CLOSED. Please check back in December to nominate someone for a 2026 award.


Nominations will be considered from the following counties: Clinton, Louisa, Muscatine, and Scott in Iowa and Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Whiteside in Illinois.


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
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