Award Nominations

Each year the Awards Committee reviews submissions and carefully selects one party for each of the award categories for recognition at our annual awards banquet.

Click one of the buttons below to make a submission online, or download the nomination form to complete and email it to the awards committee.

 Submissions must be received by February 15 , 2026. NO EXCEPTIONS

ECFSC Logo

Award Categories

Scroll Down to See History of Award Recipents!

Club of the Year Award

This award is given to the organization that has the most outstanding contributions to promote conservation or outdoor sports. 

Dedicated Service Award

This award is given to an individual or group that has gone above and beyond, assisting the Federation with tireless effort whenever needed.

Lifetime Award

This award is given to an individual that has spent a lifetime contributing to the promotion and education of conservation and outdoor activities.

Public Servant of the Year

This award is to honor political representatives that have represented the voice of the conservation community to the government.

Public Service of the Year

This award is given to an individual or group that has participated in the enrichment of community events or programs through volunteer services or financial contributions.

Sportsman of the Year

This award is given to an individual who has by words and actions embodied the true nature of an outdoor enthusiast and have demonstrated honorable practices in all outdoor activities.

Public Relations of the Year

This award is given to a media representative who has had an impact on our community by using their talents to inform the public on items vital to the preservation of conservation.

Youth of the Year

This award is given to an individual under the age of 18, that is impassioned with the desire to participate in an outdoor activity to the very best of their ability. A true beacon and representative of future sportsmen and sportswomen.

Valerie E. Gonnello Sportswoman of the Year

Val was the consummate sportswoman. Standing side-by-side with her husband Tony, she excelled at everything she did. From shooting in trap leagues to fishing on the lake – she did it all and did it better than most, man or woman. This award is given to a woman that has the same fire and passion that Val had in everything they do.

Stanley Spisiak Conservationist Award

Stanley Spisiak, also known as “Mister Buffalo River” was a staunch conservationist that fought for the cleanup of the Buffalo River, Niagara River and Lake Erie. This award is given to an individual or group that has fought to protect our natural resources in similar fashion.

Paul Stoos Volunteer of the Year

The late Paul Stoos embodied the heart and meaning of “Volunteer” as he participated in every Federation event.  This award is given to the individual who shares Pauls’ dedication to being a volunteer.

ECFSC Award Recipient History

(special thanks to Bob Avery, Chuck Godfrey and especially awards historian Frank Miskey Sr.)

Year Name
2013 RAY GWAREK
2010 WEST FALLS CONSERVATION SOC.
1993 MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL
1992 WNY SAFARI CLUB
1991 NORTH COLLINS CENTRAL SCHOOL

Year Name
2024 ALDEN ROD & GUN
2023 HAWKEYE BOWMEN
2022 ERIE COUNTY TRAPPERS
2019 DEPEW ROD AND GUN
2018 LAKE SHORE
2017 LK. ERIE CHAPTER OF FLY FISHERS INT'L
2015 SPRINGVILLE FIELD & STREAM
2011 WEST FALLS CONSERVATION SOC.
2010 WNY SAFARI CLUB
2009 ERIE COUNTY TRAPPERS
2008 ELMA CONSERVAGTION CLUB
2007 HAMBURG ROD & GUN
2006 ELMA CONSERVATIOON CLUB
2005 SCOPE - ERIE COUNTY CHAPTER
2003 ELMA CONSERVATION CLUB
2002 BISON CITY ROD & GUN
2001 NIAGARA RIVER ANGLERS
2000 WOOD AND BROOL SPORTSMAN'S CLUB
1999 WNY SAFARI CLUB
1999 ELMA CONSERVATION CLUB
1999 SOUTHTOWNS WALLEYE ASSOC.
1999 CROWS NEST FISHING CLUB
1997 DEPEW ROD AND GUN
1996 NIAGARA MUSKY ASSOC.
1995 WNY DEER SEARCH
1994 DEPEW ROD AND GUN
1993 BOSTON VALLEY CONS. SOC.
1992 HAWKEYE BOWMEN
1991 NEW YORK WALLEYE ASSOC.
1990 SCOPE - ERIE COUNTY CHAPTER
1989 SOUTHTOWNS WALLEYE ASSOC.
1988 SOUTHTOWNS WALLEYE ASSOC.
1987 ERIE COUNTY CONS. SOCIETY
1986 SPRINGVILLE FIELD & STREAM
1985 BUFFALO AUDUBON SOCIETY
1984 GEORGE WASHINGTON

Year Name
2018 JIM DePRIEST
2017 DON EINHOUSE
2014 JIM MARKEM
2013 MICHAEL WILKENSON
1986 JOHN BUNZ

Year Name
2024 FAITH MICHALOVIC
2016 KIERSTEN E. MUCHA
2015 MORIAH GAMEL
2013 SAMANTHA REESE
2012 KAYLA GREIL
2012 SIENNA GRONOWSKI
2011 DOMINIQUE MECCA
2011 RACHEAL SMITH
2010 SAMANTHA SALAZAR
2009 ALEXANDRA GAMEO
2001 ASHLEY MALOY
1999 STAPHANIE CROSBY
1997 JENNIFER CANFIELD

Year Name
2024 JEFF JONDLE
2023 TONY GONNELLO
2022 RAY PIONESSA
2019 BOB AVERY
2018 BOB SCHAEFER
2016 DANIEL SUPERSKI
2015 ECO MICHEAL PHELPS
2014 WILLY SIEBERT
2013 ECO SCOTT MARSHALL
2013 ECO JIM HUNT
2012 DAVE MOCH
2011 BRIAN MCCARTHY
2010 MIKE CUMMINGS
2010 RON SCHRUEFER
2009 RON SCHUNKE
2008 ART SEGOOL
2007 TONY SCIME
2005 JOE FISCHER
2003 CHUCK GODFREY
2002 NELSON CRONIN
2001 CALVIN ARTHUR
1997 DAN TONE
1995 WNY TROUT UNLIMITED
1993 HARRY OROBST
1988 ECO ROBERT KAUFMAN
1987 LLOYD CAMPOL, SR.
1987 VERDAME CAMPOL
1987 GAIL BARBOUR
1987 ROBERT FULLER

Year Name
2018 JOHN MILLS
1998 ASSEMBLYMAN RICHARD BRAGMAN
1997 ASSEMBLYMAN DICK SMITH

Year Name
2023 GARY HUBER
2022 DAVE BOHN
2018 JOE FISHCER
2015 GARY COONS
2014 MARK KANDEL
2013 HERB SCHULTZ
2012 ALBERT "BUD" UNDERBERG
2011 JOHN BORNGRABER
2009 NELSON CRONIN
2008 STEVE ALDSTADT
2007 ECO LT. TOM SCOTT
2006 NELSON CRONIN
2005 JERRY LEWANDOWSKI
2003 ROBERT FULLER
2002 HARRY PROBST

Year Name
2024 KURTIS SCHENK II
2022 LUKE SIEGEL
2019 CHRISTIAN DOYLE
2018 ALEX HEPWORTH
2017 COLE ALEXANDER
2016 COLTON ZACH
2015 KEVIN MORGAN
2014 TYLER BURGESS
2007 CODY ALLEN
2006 WILLIAM SEES, JR.
2004 RYAN YOUNG
2003 JACOB KWPISZESKI
2002 JUSTIN HOELZLE
2000 DAVID RING
1999 JASON PFENTER
1999 CHRISTOPHER GORKSKI
1997 THOMAS HILLARD
1996 STEPHEN SLAZAK
1995 DAVID KEDZIERSKI
1994 SHAWN GRABP

Year Name
2013 SANDY BEACH - WBEN 930
2013 TOM BAUERLE - WBEN 930
2000 SANDY BEACH
1996 GARY RISINGS
1994 MIKE VOGEL
1991 JOHN LAMOND
1991 SAM ASARESE
1990 FORREST FISHER (Dave Barus)
1990 WIVB CHANNEL 4
1989 RANDY OPFERBECK
1988 BOB KOSHINSKI
1988 MIKE LEVY
1987 WILL ELLIOTT
1986 ROD STODDARD
1986 WILL ELLIOTT
1985 FORREST FISHER (Dave Barus)
1984 BILL HILTS

Year Name
2016 MIKE MCCLOUD
2014 ROBERT KEIKER
2012 JOE FISCHER
2008 DAVE BARUS
1994 FRED BEERING
1984 LOUIS WILLS

Year Name
BOB FEENEY
2023 JOHN MILLS
2023 CITIZENS AGAINST WIND
2022 AMY PLECAS
2021 CHRIS JACOBS
2019 ROXANN FERRAZOLI
2017 PAUL STOOS
2016 PAUL STOOS
2015 HOPE MELNYK
2014 ROSE BARUS
2013 JOE JEMIOLO
2011 DAVE SMYCZYNSKI
2010 DAN TONE
2009 DAVE BARUS
2008 CHUCK GODFREY
2007 RICH DAVENPORT
2001 DON DAVIS
2000 FRANK MISKEY, SR.
LEE GALLANT & TONY GONNELLO
ECO DOUG CASE
PAT SCHRIMMEL
MS. HAYES
ELISE ABEL
BISON CITY ROD AND GUN
LEN FELDMAN
BOB CHURCH
FRED LANGDON
CONRAD BOYLE
BOB MIECHOWICZ
PAUL STOOS
TONY GONNELLO
JOE MCADAMS
TURBINES IN LAKE ERIE

Winner 1