Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds Award Winners Announced
Winners to be recognized at April 26 PA Wilds Annual Dinner & Awards in Williamsport
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Each year, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (PA Wilds Center) recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations, programs, communities and places that exemplify the great work being done across the region to develop nature tourism and the outdoor recreation economy in a way that creates jobs, diversifies local economies, inspires stewardship and improves quality of life. More than 250 businesses and community leaders from across the Pennsylvania Wilds, along with state partners and officials from Harrisburg, will gather to celebrate the Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds award winners at the 2018 PA Wilds Annual Dinner & Awards, to be held on Thursday, April 26 at the Pajama Factory in Williamsport, Lycoming County. The region’s 12 county governments, visitor bureaus and many local organizations and businesses participate in the Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds Awards, along with PA’s Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) and Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED). The theme of this year’s PA Wilds Annual Dinner & Awards is “Celebrating 15 Years – The Wilds at Work.”
“We’re thrilled to honor such an inspiring group of award winners this year; their work and dedication is making a powerful impact in the region that will be felt for generations to come. I encourage everyone to join us in celebrating these leaders, while also commemorating the important anniversary of 15 years of the Pennsylvania Wilds work, region, and mission!” said Ta Enos, Executive Director of the PA Wilds Center.
The 2018 Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds include:
Outstanding Leader Award Winner: Tom Kase – Kane, McKean County
Great Places Award Winner: Dr. Colson E. Blakeslee Memorial Recreation Area, Benezette Township – Elk County
Conservation Stewardship (Individual) Award Winner: Bekki Titchner - Elk County
Conservation Stewardship (Group) Award Winner: PA Firefly Festival, Inc. - Tionesta, Forest County
Great Design Award Winner: Good Growing Gardens, Smethport – McKean County
Artisan of the Year Award Winner: Kyle Yates, Brookville – Jefferson County
Business of the Year Award Winner: Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Co., Williamsport – Lycoming County
Inspiring Youth Award Winner: Olivia Hanna, Millbrook Playhouse, Clinton County
Event of the Year Award Winner: Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival, Renovo – Clinton County
Best Brand Ambassador Award Winner: Katie Weidenboerner - Elk County
Member of the Year Award Winner: Jan Hampton,
Emporium - Cameron County
The PA Wilds Center and our partners are humbled to recognize Jan Hampton with a posthumous Member of the Year Award. Jan was a tireless and upbeat advocate for conservation and youth outreach, working for 23 years in the Cameron County School District, and serving for 18 years as the Cameron County Conservation District manager. Jan was a former chair of the Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team, and endeared so many with her testimonial that "The Pennsylvania Wilds is a gentle sharing of the things we hold most dear." During her time as Conservation District Manager, Jan expanded both environmental stewardship programs and staff. Her youth outreach was also significant; small steps of teaching in classrooms about birds, bats, elk and of course, frogs, paved the way for more advanced activities we have today, such as the Wild About Nature Field Day, The Wild Envirothon and Trout in the Classroom. In 2017, the Cameron County fair hosted a Jan Hampton Youth Conservation Night in her memory. Her great love for the outdoors, conservation stewardship and youth education made a lasting, multi-generational impact on the region. A great singer - Jan once broke out into song, unscripted, at one of our awards dinners! Jan Hampton’s enthusiasm, friendship, sense of humor and leadership are missed, and we are grateful to honor her legacy with the Member of the Year Award for 2018.
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