Call for Nominations: The Buckeye Trail Blazer Award

Volunteers and partners are the lifeblood of the Buckeye Trail Association. Volunteers and partners give thousands of hours of their time and energy to help build, maintain, protect and promote the enjoyment of Ohio’s 1,454 mile BT. Our volunteers deserve to be honored for their hard work on-trail and off-trail and we need your help to highlight all types of volunteers and partners around the state to thank them and encourage others to follow their leadership.

The deadline to nominate a volunteer or partner is July 1, 2026. The awards will be presented at a Virtual Awards Ceremony the week of August 24.

Questions? Contact the Awards Committee Chair at Awards@buckeyetrail.org

This week’s spotlight award category is The Buckeye Trail Blazer Award for Leadership by Example!

The Buckeye Trail Blazer Award for Leadership by Example

This award is given to person(s) who have exhibited superior service and leadership by example in appointed or volunteer tasks.

Formerly, it was known as the Star and Super Star awards, but these awards were combined.

Past Recipients

2025 Rebecca Dobson, Phil Freeland, Nancy Hoffner, Pat Long, Mark Middleton, Jill Moorhead, David Thorndike, Richard Saccardi, Meg Sondey
2024 Ricahrd Morgan, Brent Watson, Shawn Steinschrieber
2023 Valerie Garner
2022 David Harris
2021 Brandon Bates
2020 Russ Flesher, Bill Jindra, Dale Sroka
2019 Pat Hayes, Dane Mile, Jo Rawley, Andy Hagat

Prior to 2019 - Star Awards Tim Murphy, Jan Geho, Angie Shelton, Mary Ann Kamp, Linda Paul, Barry Unger, Melissa Shaw, Patti Cook, Debbie Zampini, Dick Tresendrider, Bev Starcher, Chris McIntyre, Connie and Mike Snyder, Devon and Henry Atkinson.

Prior to 2019 - Super Star Awards John Nemcik, Jim “Sunny” Sunyak, Chuck and Beth Hewitt, Mary Ann and Scott Kamp, Earl Garn, Beverly Starcher, Randall Roberts, Steve Yantz, Richard Lutz, Jay Holwick, Jeff Yoest, Claudia Bashaw, Jamie Guy, Byron Guy, Garry Dill, Bruce “Poppie” Purdy, Darlene Karoly, Andy Niekamp, Byron and Sandy Henry, Russ Johnson, Mel Beers, Adrian Vanko, Gary Williams, Pattie Cook, Bob Merkle, Lisa Daiber, Mary Hayes, Greg Wisniewski, Les Weidenhammer, Bill Shultz.