Stewards of Heritage Award

The Stewards of Heritage Award is presented to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to aid archaeological preservation, further research, educate or otherwise promote public awareness of Florida archaeology. Awards are presented every other year.

The FAC Stewards of Heritage Awards (SOH) was established to recognize the role of the general public in preservation, education, and research of archaeological resources. When funding permits this event should be done every other year. FAC Stewards of Heritage recipients have demonstrated a strong devotion to preserving, learning, and teaching Florida's heritage locally as well as at the state and national levels.

  • Nominee Eligibility:

    1. The nominee(s) cannot be a member(s) or eligible for membership in the FAC.

    2. The nominee(s) cannot be a professional archaeologist.

    3. The nominee(s) have to have gone beyond the norm in fostering the preservation, education, or research of archaeological sites and not just be a general supporter.

    Nomination Format:

    1. Nominations need to be in essay format (no more than two pages) and need to include; a. the person(s) or organization(s) being nominated, b. contact information for the nominee(s), c. a one-page essay describing the contributions of the person(s) or organization(s), d. why the nominator thinks the person(s) or organization(s) is deserving of the award

    2. The nomination must explain how the nominee(s) has demonstrated/is demonstrating a strong devotion to preserving, learning, and teaching Florida's heritage at the local, state, or national level.

    3. A previous Steward of Heritage Award recipient can be nominated; however, subsequent nominations should not be for a continuation of the same tasks for which previous awards were given.

    Nomination Submission:

    1. This biannual event is normally held in conjunction with the Florida Anthropological Society annual meeting, which are held in May.

    2. The nominator(s)must be a member(s) of the FAC.

    3. Nominations are submitted to the Stewards of Heritage Awards Committee Chair by February 1 of the award year.

    Nomination Selection Process:

    1. The Stewards of Heritage Committee Chair will screen nominations for eligibility and forward to Committee members for review.

    2. Committee members (including the chair) will discuss nominations and make recommendations to the FAC Board for approval no later than two weeks after the nomination deadline.

    3. The FAC Board will vote on the recommendations (via email if necessary) no later than March 15 of the award year.

    Nomination Notification:

    1. The Committee Chair will notify the nominator(s) and the Award recipients by March 20 of the award year.

    2. The Committee Chair will ask the SOH Award recipient to provide the names of non-FAC members to invite to the awards reception.

    3. The Committee Chair will ask the SOH Award recipient for the name(s) and contact person(s) of local media so that the FAC can distribute press releases announcing the award in the recipient's hometown.

Previous Award Winners

2024

The City of Sarasota Florida

In recognition of their community’s efforts to protect and preserve prehistoric and historic resources throughout the city over the past 50 years.

Andres Viglucci

In recognition of his advocacy for the archaeological heritage of Miami and South Florida for over 40 years as a reporter for the Miami Herald.

  • 2022

    Representative Glenda Simmons-Jenkins - In recognition of her efforts to help locate and document African-American heritage in northeast Florida and her work as a mentor to the preservation community.

    2020

    Friends of Fish Island - In recognition of this group’s extraordinary efforts to permanently preserve Fish Island’s natural and cultural resources.

    Chris Nolan - In recognition of the many hours she has volunteered to document and record historic cemeteries throughout the state of Florida.

    Lynn Kelley and Ann Broadwell, Florida Department of Transportation, District 4 - In recognition of their work to preserve North Woodlawn Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and to work with the local community in the care of its cultural resources.

    2018

    Lonnie Mann - In recognition of his long support of archaeology in the Tallahassee area and his advocacy for state legislation to protect archaeological sites.

    Joshua Frank - In recognition of reporting the discovery of human remains at the Manasota Key Offshore site.

    2016

    Laura Kammerer - In recognition of Laura’s long-term preservation efforts for the people of Florida, and her decades of public service for both the improvement of cultural resource management and public archaeology.

    Janet Cornelius - In recognition her volunteerism as she has aided the preservation of Florida's cultural heritage through her many years of work for the Florida Museum of Natural History and her involvement with the larger archaeological community.

    Harry Koran and Ken Pachulski - In recognition of their long-term preservation efforts for the people of Florida, and their service in assisting Weedon Island in the recovery, excavation, and preservation of the Shoreline Canoe.

    City of St. Augustine - In recognition of their continuing efforts in preserving and promoting archaeological resources and public service for both the improvement of cultural resource management and public archaeology. The City Commission’s efforts this year to pass a resolution against the proposed citizen’s archaeology permit program, HB803 and SB1054 were unprecedented actions aiding to assist Florida Archaeology statewide.

    Cardno - In recognition of Cardno’s long time support of the Stewards of Heritage Awards, sponsorship of the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Symposium, and promoting the rich heritage of Florida for the people of Florida generations to come.

    2014

    National Guard Family Foundation - Recognition long-term preservation efforts and care of graves of our honored veterans by cleaning up and restoration of the heavily damaged African-American cemetery in St. Augustine.

    Southwest Florida Water Management District - Recognition of long-term preservation efforts to the restoration of the Chassahowitzka Headspring in Citrus County, Florida

    West Coast Inland Navigation District - Recognition of long-term preservation efforts and 20-year initiative to stabilize the Snake Island Site for continued recreational use and protection and maintenance of the sites along the Intracoastal Waterway.

  • 2012

    Martha Cade - Florida Museum of Natural History volunteer

    Casey Coy and Mike Terrell - Florida Aquarium Dive Team

    Blackwater Pyrates - Milton, FL

    2010

    Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park Citizen Support Organization - Peter Krulder, State Park Manager, Honeymoon Island State Park

    2008

    Marty Ardren - Trail of Florida’s Indian Heritage

    George “Boots” Boyer - Lake Okeechobee Survey

    2006

    Jeb and Columba Bush - Mission San Luis

    Dot Moore - New Smyrna

    2004

    Charles DuToit - Tomoka Basin State Park

    Thomas G. Vickery - Florida Museum of Natural History volunteer

    2002

    Keith Thompson - Weedon Island Preserve

    John Fraser - Fountain of Youth Archaeological Site

    Steve W. Martin - Florida Anthropological Society

    Carole Pope and Jim Swann - Windover Pond Archaeological Site

    2000

    W. Miley - Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve

    J. Shafer - Gulfstream Natural Gas System Pipeline project

    L. J. Young - Collier County Historical & Archaeological Preservation Board

    A. Penelas, M. Steirheim, K. Sorensen, T. Goldstein, T. Logue - Miami Circle project

    Anderson Family

  • 1998

    Michael Gannon - Lifetime Achievement

    The Harold Anderson Family - Anderson/Narvaez site

    Garfield Beckstead - Useppa Island

    Robert Daniels - Aucilla Wildlife Management Area

    Michael Drummond - Alachua County Cultural Resources

    Kenneth Scott - Archaeology publications, University Press of Florida

    1995

    C. L. Irwin - Florida Department of Transportation

    R. Rester - Florida Park Service, Guana Tract

    G. Beardslee, M. Mohseni, J. Roeller, J. Rowes, and F. Piccolo - Yatkitischee project

    1993

    P. Anthony - Tatham Mound

    D. and P. Randell - Pineland site

    F. and B. Usina - North Beach site

    1991

    E. Goza - Lifetime achievement

    (U.S. Congressman) C. Bennett - Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve

    (State Rep.) K. Arnold - Year of the Indian project

    K. Holland and L. Manley - Maple Leaf site

    N. Long and W. Palmer - Paddock Park Archaeological Education project

    S. McMillan and W. T. Neal Trust - Apalachicola Archaeological project

    1989

    D. Allen, C. Allen, C. Mitchell - DeSoto Apalachee site

    F. and E. Bilek - Mission San Pedro y Pablo de Patale

    G. Dorion and D. Dorion - Mission Santa Catalina de Guale

    J. Eckerd and J. Swann - Windover Site

    (Senator) B. Johnson - Warm Mineral Springs site

    Lykes Brothers Family - Fort Center site

    R. Rogers - Arvida's Weston development