Posted Jan. 9, 2025
PHOENIX – If you haven’t yet made your reservation for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet, there are still a few spots available. The deadline to make reservations has been extended until Jan. 16.
The banquet will be held Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Grande Ballroom, 11111 N. 7th Street in Phoenix.
You can reserve your spot via the online Registration Form. The cost is $75 per person.
The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Sixteen award recipients chosen at the commission’s Sept. 6 meeting in Prescott will be honored at the banquet.
This year’s recipients are:
- Award of Excellence – Kohinoor Kar – ADOT
- Youth Conservationist of the Year – Ryder and Caydence Walton
- Media of the Year – The Williams-Grand Canyon News
- Conservation Organization of the Year – Pete Cimellaro – AZ Big Game Super Raffle dba Conservation First
- Conservationist of the Year – Nate Rees – Trout Unlimited
- Natural Resource Professional of the Year – Cheryl Rodriguez
- Volunteer of the Year – Mark Venuti
- Educator of the Year – Jacob Swartwood
- Mentor of the Year – Marci Welton
- Advocate of the Year (State) – Rep. Tim Dunn
- Advocate of the Year (Federal) – Senator Mark Kelly
- Business Partner of the Year – AZ Fly Shop – Chris Rich
- Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year – Denis Rusty McBride – Sprague’s Sports LLC
- Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year – Terry Schmidt of Schmidt Ranch
- North American Model Commissioners’ Award – Jeff Gagnon
The banquet will begin with a social hour at 4 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The awards will be presented concurrently with dinner.
All of the costs associated with the awards banquet must be paid for by ticket sales and sponsorship donations, including the complimentary tickets for award recipients and their spouse or guest.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission held its first annual awards banquet on Jan. 12, 1991. Since then, more than 400 recipients have been recognized with Commission awards.