2007 Salute to the Parks Awards Gala
Protecting America's Heritage
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 · The National Building Museum
2007 Awardees
The William Penn Mott Jr. Park Leadership Award is presented annually to a public official who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the protection of America's natural and cultural heritage. The award was named for William Penn Mott, Jr., a director of the National Park Service and an NPCA Trustee, whose lifelong commitment to the parks embodies the spirit of this award. This year the Mott Award will be given to Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) for his extraordinary commitment to protecting our nation's national parks. Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Senator Alexander has taken actions to benefit the entire National Park System; including advocacy on behalf of national park air quality, co-sponsorship of the National Park Centennial Act, and efforts to provide much needed resources to national parks during debate on the transportation bill.
The
Robin W. Winks Award for Enhancing Public Understanding of National Parks is given annually to an individual or organization that has effectively communicated the values of the National Park System to the American public. The award recognizes both Dr. Winks' long association with NPCA and his expertise on the National Park System. The award acknowledges the work of an individual or organization contributing to public education about national parks through works in the arts, media, or academia. This year, the Winks award will be presented to the
National Geographic Society for its more than 100 years of publications educating the public about the majestic beauty and cultural significance of America's national parks. Recently, the Society took an active role in collaborating with the National Park System Advisory Board to produce and publish the 2001 report titled
Rethinking the National Parks for the 21st Century, which among other recommendations, encouraged the National Park Service to promote parks as "Pathways to Learning," elevating education as a fundamental element of the Service's mission.
