Refuge Association Announces 2026 National Wildlife Refuge Award Recipients
For Immediate Release October 20th, 2026
Contact: Eden Taylor etaylor@refugeassociation.org
Four Honorees Recognized For Conservation Leadership & Sustained Service To Wildlife & Refuge Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Wildlife Refuge Association announces the recipients of the 2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards, recognizing a refuge manager, employee, volunteer, and Refuge Friends organization whose work has made a lasting difference for wildlife and the communities connected to national wildlife refuges.
This year's honorees are Brian Benedict of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Maine, Steve Huhnke of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex in California and Oregon, Greg Sanderson of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ohio, and the Association of the Friends of the Wichitas, which supports Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
Their accomplishments range from protecting seabird nesting islands along Maine's coast to restoring waterbird habitat in the Klamath Basin, repairing critical infrastructure in Ohio, and sustaining conservation and community programs in southwestern Oklahoma. Each recipient demonstrates how the people working on and alongside national wildlife refuges help turn the National Wildlife Refuge System's conservation mission into lasting results.
“Recognizing the people who keep our national wildlife refuges going is one of the best parts of my job,” said Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President & CEO of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “This year’s awardees see what needs doing and get to work, whether that means bringing water back to dry wetlands or giving their time and skills to help a refuge serve its community. Brian, Steve, Greg, and the Friends of the Wichitas have made a lasting difference for wildlife. I’m proud to help tell their stories and give them the recognition they deserve.”
Brian Benedict Receives Paul Kroegel Award - Refuge Manager Of The Year
Benedict, recipient of the 2026 Paul Kroegel Award, has served at Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge since 1992 and became refuge manager in 2017. Working with partners, he helped evaluate 4,500 islands to identify conservation priorities and supported a land protection partnership that has helped the refuge acquire more than 50 islands over the past 25 years. His leadership supports seabird restoration, research, and the staff who conduct demanding fieldwork on remote islands. He also served as acting superintendent of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument from 2017 to 2020 while continuing his refuge responsibilities.
Steve Huhnke Receives The Refuge Employee Of The Year Award
Huhnke, engineering equipment supervisor at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, is recognized for finding practical solutions to difficult water management and habitat challenges. After prolonged drought at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, he adapted drainage infrastructure to return water to approximately 35,000 acres of wetlands in less than two months. In a separate effort, his careful movement of limited water between wetlands sustained habitat for young waterbirds, with refuge biologists later banding more than 5,000 young birds in the habitat maintained through that work. His contributions also include river restoration, infrastructure repairs, and collaboration with neighboring irrigation districts and federal partners.
Greg Sanderson Receives The Refuge Volunteer Of The Year Award
Sanderson, a retired railroad signalman, began volunteering at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in 2016 and routinely contributes 20 to 25 hours each week. He applies his technical expertise to electrical work, equipment repairs, habitat projects, and public access. After a lightning strike damaged the visitor center in April 2026, he helped refuge staff restore critical systems so the building could reopen after one week. He has also helped install wildlife cameras that make refuge habitats visible to people who cannot visit in person, maintained trails and dikes, and shared his skills with fellow volunteers.
Association Of The Friends Of The Wichitas Receives The Molly Krival Award - Refuge Friends Group Of The Year
The Friends of the Wichitas have funded more than $580,000 in projects at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge since 2017, supporting facilities improvements, visitor information, and habitat work. Their Nature Store helps generate support for refuge priorities, while members contribute volunteer labor and work closely with staff. The group also provides $250 grants for field trips, offers guided tours using an accessible bus, and supports youth fishing programs. Its sustained involvement connects the refuge with surrounding communities and helps carry conservation projects from planning through completion.
The annual National Wildlife Refuge Awards recognize outstanding service to the National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Paul Kroegel Award honors exceptional refuge management, the employee and volunteer awards recognize service across refuge operations, and the Molly Krival Award celebrates the contributions of Refuge Friends organizations.
Together, the 2026 recipients show the range of expertise and commitment that wildlife conservation requires, from research and habitat management to maintenance, mentoring, and community partnerships.
Learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge Awards at www.refugeassociation.org/awards.
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The National Wildlife Refuge Awards, presented annually by the National Wildlife Refuge Association since 1994, honor the exceptional contributions of volunteers, professionals, and partners who strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System. The awards celebrate the people whose passion and dedication protect wildlife, restore ecosystems, and connect communities to the natural world.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is the largest network of public lands and waters in the world dedicated to wildlife conservation, encompassing more than 570 refuges and more than 850 million acres. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, refuges provide critical habitat for thousands of species and offer opportunities for Americans to experience nature through hiking, hunting, birding, photography, and education.
As the only nonprofit solely dedicated to supporting the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wildlife Refuge Association protects, promotes, and enhances America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the Refuge System and wildlife beyond its boundaries. The organization addresses Refuge System funding, management, and strategic growth, while also promoting programs that maximize the system’s conservation impact.
