ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Carolyn Crayton Volunteer of the Year

Named in honor of Georgia’s first affiliate leader, and someone who galvanized thousands of volunteers throughout her own career, this award recognizes a passionate individual who has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time and effort to improving the local environment.

Mitchell has devoted more than a decade to championing environmental efforts in Taylorsville. A retired Cartersville Fire Department captain, current mayor of Taylorsville, and board member for Keep Bartow Beautiful, he exemplifies community stewardship, inspiring others to take pride in their surroundings. Since 2013, he has coordinated 11 Great American Cleanups, rallying 461 volunteers and removing nearly eight tons of litter from the area. In one cleanup alone, volunteers collected 2,320 pounds of litter—a testament to Mitchell’s leadership. Under his guidance, volunteer participation has grown steadily, with families, civic groups, and youth troops returning year after year. Beyond these events, Mitchell regularly organizes cleanups on his own and brings fresh ideas and energy to every board meeting. His dedication, creativity, and unwavering support have left a lasting mark on his town, inspiring neighbors and volunteers alike to do the same.

Barbara Mason Executive Director of the Year

Named in honor of the founder of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, this award recognizes an affiliate leader with a profound commitment to making our state cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. This person inspires others, implements innovative programming, and has an established record of creating lasting, positive change.

Since 2020, Tiffany has brought fresh vision and momentum to Warner Robins’ environmental programs. As an ISA Certified Arborist, she has planted thousands of trees in public spaces and led greenspace restoration projects that create healthier, more inviting areas for residents. She is also a champion for pollinators, having transformed over 11 acres of local medians into vibrant wildflower habitats that support biodiversity while reducing maintenance costs. Tiffany directs comprehensive recycling and waste reduction programs that, combined with community cleanups, have diverted thousands of pounds of materials from landfills. Through strategic grants and dynamic partnerships with schools, businesses, civic groups, and volunteers, she orchestrates a powerhouse of collaboration that maximizes resources, engagement, and tangible results. Her hands-on leadership, innovative programming, and inclusive approach turn ambitious initiatives into meaningful improvements that make Warner Robins cleaner, greener, and more inspiring for everyone.

Lynn Cobb Student of the Year

Named in honor of a former executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation and a true champion of environmental education, this award celebrates the achievements of an environmental steward between sixth and twelfth grade.

Pippa is a senior at Calhoun High School, and over the past three years she has become one of the most dedicated and influential student volunteers with Keep Calhoun Gordon Beautiful. As vice president of the school’s Interact Club, she has helped grow membership to more than 30 students while leading recycling efforts, organizing Adopt-a-Mile cleanups along River Street, and rallying classmates to tackle litter after football games and throughout the community. Pippa is also a driving force behind many Keep Calhoun Gordon Beautiful initiatives, volunteering at recycling events, assisting with tire and hazardous material collection, and helping prepare and distribute more than 5,000 tree seedlings during the annual Arbor Day tree giveaway. Her willingness to take on any task, from sorting trees to hauling tires, reflects a genuine commitment to service and sustainability. Through her quiet determination and ability to inspire others to join her, Pippa continues to bring students and community members together to make Calhoun and Gordon County cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.

Lynn Cobb Student of the Year

Named in honor of a former executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation and a true champion of environmental education, this award celebrates the achievements of an environmental steward between sixth and twelfth grade.

Sophia is an 11th-grade student at Parkview High School who is already making a global impact through youth-driven environmental leadership. She founded Clean Choices Together, a youth-led nonprofit that helps small businesses transition away from plastic packaging through sustainable materials, data-driven tools, and storytelling. What began with her own small jewelry business has grown into an international network of more than 400 members, 150 volunteers, and 12 student directors spanning 30 states and 19 countries, helping 81 businesses reduce plastic waste and reach more than 239,000 shoppers. Sophia also serves on the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA, the Plant-for-the-Planet Global Ambassador Council, and Project Green School’s National Youth Council, where she collaborates with youth leaders and shares environmental resources with thousands of students. Closer to home, she contributes her energy and ideas through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Green Youth Advisory Council, where she is helping launch a garden at Camp Creek Elementary School. She also represented Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful at 2025 Climate Week in New York City, sharing insights on sustainable packaging and youth-led environmental solutions. Sophia’s vision, leadership, and commitment show how one student can inspire both local action and global change.

Steve Reynolds Public Servant of the Year

Named in honor of a former state senator who was instrumental in establishing the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation network, this award recognizes an elected official, law enforcement officer, code officer, or other government employee who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the environment.

During his eight years representing District 2 on the LaGrange City Council, Nathan Gaskin became a tireless advocate for environmental stewardship and neighborhood beautification. He played a central role in launching and sustaining the city’s Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It initiative, which encourages residents, city employees, and community partners to participate in litter abatement and cleanup efforts. Nathan never misses a cleanup, frequently addresses litter and maintenance issues personally, and even assists elderly or physically limited residents with property upkeep. Under his leadership, the program has expanded to include annual citywide employee cleanups and monthly community events, supported by businesses, schools, civic groups, and volunteers. By leading through action rather than words, Nathan inspires others to take pride in their neighborhoods and fosters a culture of shared responsibility that continues to make LaGrange cleaner, greener, and more vibrant.

Trailblazer of Tomorrow

This celebrates members of our network who use a creative approach when solving challenges, launching projects, or building new programs.

Keep Liberty Beautiful’s innovative campaign approach makes environmental engagement fun, hands-on, and community-driven. Creative initiatives like the “Recycling Door Decorating Contest,” “Earth Day Scavenger Hunt,” interactive event booths, weekly newspaper articles, and active social media posts engage residents of all ages in litter prevention, recycling, and beautification. Over the past year, these efforts mobilized 2,119 volunteers—a 15 percent increase from the previous year. Community cleanups collected over 10 tons of litter and debris, and recycling participation in local events rose by 15 percent. Keep Liberty Beautiful’s monthly newsletter reaches more than 1,700 subscribers, and more than 42 academic programs each year inspire youth to take meaningful environmental action. By blending creativity, authentic messaging, and strong community partnerships, Keep Liberty Beautiful fosters lasting pride, participation, and environmental stewardship across Liberty County.

Community Catalyst

This award highlights the efforts of a group or individual to foster outstanding collaborative leadership between neighbors, local businesses, and community organizations with the purpose of collectively improving the local environment. 

Keep Golden Isles Beautiful has transformed coastal stewardship through its signature Marsh Madness initiative, an annual month-long campaign that engages residents, businesses, civic groups, and visitors in protecting Georgia’s vital salt marshes. What began in 2014 as two cleanups has grown to 46 marsh and marsh-adjacent events in March 2025 alone, involving 552 volunteers who removed 9.5 tons of trash, including 70 tires. Over the more than decade-long history of Marsh Madness, 3,511 volunteers have removed 69 tons of trash and 677 tires across 236 cleanups. With just a two-person staff, KGB relies on site leaders from local organizations and businesses to coordinate each cleanup, recruit volunteers, and ensure safety and efficiency, making this effort a true community-driven endeavor. Beyond the cleanups, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful amplifies its impact through social media and traditional outlets, educating residents and visitors about the importance of Georgia’s salt marshes and the risks litter poses to this critical estuarine ecosystem. By mobilizing volunteers, energizing community partners, and combining hands-on action with public education, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful has cultivated a culture of shared responsibility that safeguards one of the state’s most important natural resources.

Clean Community Champion

This award honors the efforts of a group that strives to change the attitudes and behaviors toward litter in its community, through cleanups, educational workshops, promotional campaigns, or other preventative measures.

The City of LaGrange serves approximately 31,000 residents and has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering a clean, safe, and vibrant community through its Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It initiative. Launched in 2018, the program mobilizes city employees, volunteers, schools, civic groups, and local businesses to participate in citywide and neighborhood cleanups, litter abatement efforts, and community beautification projects. Over the years, participation has steadily grown, with annual kickoff events drawing around 100 volunteers and dozens more attending monthly cleanups. Temporary dumpsters and other preventative measures have helped reduce illegal dumping while improving neighborhood appearance, and residents increasingly view litter prevention as a shared responsibility. The initiative’s message has become part of everyday life in LaGrange, even inspiring its adoption as the City’s official motto, demonstrating a lasting cultural impact. Through consistent action, partnership building, and community engagement, the City of LaGrange continues to set a high standard for civic stewardship and environmental responsibility, creating a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful community.

Waste Reduction Warrior

This award highlights the achievements of a group that has made significant strides in minimizing the impact of waste in its community through recycling, composting, or adaptive reuse projects. 

The Douglasville Recycling Center serves roughly 35,000 residents by promoting waste reduction and sustainable practices across the community. In its first weekend of operation, the center collected more than 4,000 pounds of recyclables, and on peak days, staff assist an average of 60 visitors, demonstrating strong local engagement. The center also partners with local creatives to repurpose plastic caps from #1 and #2 bottles—materials not typically recyclable—into public art installations and functional items, turning discarded materials into assets. Through Recycling 101 programs with Keep Douglasville Beautiful, staff and volunteers have educated over 500 residents and students on proper recycling, waste reduction, and sustainable habits, inspiring participants to share knowledge with family, schools, and neighborhoods. By combining practical solutions, creative initiatives, and hands-on education, the Douglasville Recycling Center has strengthened environmental awareness, increased recycling participation, and fostered a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable community.

Greenspace Guardian

This award commends a group who has added vibrancy and resiliency to the local landscape through native plantings, pollinator habitats, urban forests, or placemaking.

Keep Warner Robins Beautiful has transformed the city’s landscape through two high-impact initiatives: wildflower medians and targeted tree plantings. By converting roughly 11 acres of local medians from grass to native wildflowers, the organization has created striking green corridors that support pollinators, enhance biodiversity, and reduce mowing and chemical use, saving the city tens of thousands of dollars annually. These medians also provide a visible platform for community education, inspiring residents to take pride in their surroundings and advocate for their care. Through the Trees Across Georgia program, Keep Warner Robins Beautiful has further enhanced its urban forest by planting over 100 trees, removing hazardous stumps, and converting impervious surfaces into new green spaces. These efforts provide measurable benefits in stormwater management, urban cooling, and public safety, while promoting environmental equity. With thoughtful planning, creative landscaping, and strong partnerships, Keep Warner Robins Beautiful has strengthened community stewardship and made the city cleaner, greener, and more welcoming for generations to come.