Call for Nominations: The Ralph Regula 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 Ralph Regula Award for Leadership!

The Ralph Regula Award for Leadership

At every level of government the BT and the BTA need the support of our elected decision makers to improve the Buckeye Trail experience. This award honors those elected officials who have made the BT or trails in general a priority for accomplishing some significant effort that benefits trails in Ohio.

The Honorable Ralph Regula was an Ohio State Senator and US Congressman as well as Vice President of the Buckeye Trail Association. Among Regula’s many accomplishments are the creation of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Ohio Recreational Trails Law of 1972 and designation of the Buckeye Trail as Ohio’s State Trail in 1967. Regula was a visionary legislative champion for conservation and outdoor recreation in Ohio and beyond.

Past Recipients

2025 U.S Congresswoman Emilia Sykes
2024 Rick Perales
2023 Bev Trovato
2021 State Representative Catherine D. Ingram
2020 Representative James Hoops
2019 Senator Sean O’Brien, Senator Steve Wilson