AWARDS
Submission Deadlines:
APSAF Awards are presented at our Annual Conference; the deadline is Aug. 31, 2026.
2026 National Award Nominations will open on December 1, 2025, and close on March 1, 2026.
2025 National Award Recipients
Presidential Field Forester: Dan Sheffing, CF
SAF Fellow: Les Hunter
Outstanding Local Unit Achievement Award: Skyline Chapter, VA
Golden Members
Not picured:
Sara A. Browning – Pisgah Chapter, NC
Robert S. Mazur – Tar River Chapter, NC
Michael C. Rushton – Enoree Chapter, SC
Pictured below (left to right):
Henry E. Kodama – Edisto Chapter, SC
Patricia Layton – Keowee Chapter, SC
Phillip O. Epps – Enoree Chapter, SC
2025 APSAF Award Winners
Distinguished Service to Forestry
Sam Cook
The Distinguished Service to Forestry Award is the highest award given by the Appalachian Society and is presented to an individual who has made an especially notable contribution to the profession of forestry. This award has been presented to a deserving APSAF member since 1956.
Sam has been a member of SAF since 2013 and has served our society with distinction as SAF National President and at the local and regional level with student programs, diversity efforts, mentoring and more. Sam is currently Executive Director of Forest Assets and Vice President of the Natural Resources Foundation, NC State University College of Natural Resources. Prior to this, Sam worked for IP’s Forest Resource Division for 15 years, Duke Energy for nine years, and he first laced up his boots with the USFS in Idaho. Sam has degrees from Tuskegee and NCSU.
Young forester leadership award
Sara Cerv
The Young Forester Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership by a forestry professional younger than 40 years of age whose actions have benefited the practice of forestry and SAF.
With two B.S. degrees and an M.S. in Forestry from Virginia Tech, Sara is currently the Forest Conservation Director with the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society. Previously, she led GIS work for GFR Consulting. Her SAF involvement has gained notoriety in SAF for her leadership and ingenuity as APSAF Membership Chair, participation on numerous APSAF task forces, planning committee, and as a speaker at SAF national meetings.
volunteer service award
Glen Worrell
The Volunteer Service Award was established to recognize special, sustained, voluntary service on behalf of SAF.
With over 31 years as a Consulting Forester, Glen has seen a lot change in the region. He has been a Manager with F&W Forestry Services since 1996 and has served the Society at the chapter level and in numerous APSAF planning committees over the years. He’s served the industry in multiple volunteer facets and is one of the best-known names in Virginia’s Forestry Community. Glen’s forestry degrees hail from Virginia Tech.