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


SAVE THE DATE

March 7, 2026 | 9:00AM - 12:00PM

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Join us for our 7th Annual Oberholtzer Awards

Next year's event takes place on March 7, 2026 from 9:00AM - 12:00PM.


Stay tuned for more details!


Did you miss this year's event? You can still help by donating using the link below!

Donate

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

  • 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

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

  • Thank You to 2025's In-Kind Donors

    Adler Theater

    Balanced Chiropractic

    Barrel House

    Bela

    Big River Magazine

    Blevins Wild Bird Shop

    Bummer City Inc

    Bettendorf Family Museum

    Barrel House

    Chanda & Jim Massengale

    Codfish Hollow Barnstormers

    Costco

    Curtis Lundy

    Dean Coon

    Figge Art Museum

    Five Cities Brewery

    Fleet Feet

    Great River Brewery

    Heather Ballou

    Illuminate Healing Studio

    Isabel Bloom

    Kent Turner and Amy Groskopf

    Lagomarcinos

    Last Picture House

    LeClaire Olive Oil Co

    Me & Billy

    Mississippi River Distilling Co

    Niabi Zoo

    Of Heaven and Earth

    Pour Bros

    Putnam Museum

    QC Botanical Center

    Salon Halo

    The Fun Station

    The Rust Belt

    Total Detailing Auto Spa

    Townsquare Media

    Visit Quad Cities

    Wallaces Garden Center

    Whitey's Ice Cream

    Wild Birds Unlimited

    Wide River Winery

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