About the JEPB Awards Program
The Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board (JEPB) established an awards program in 1975 to honor outstanding environmental accomplishments, in several categories, above the actions required by law. Over the years individuals or organizations have been chosen for the Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award because of their innovation, commitment and expertise. The awards program also recognizes individuals who have long term commitment to the protection and preservation of the environment with two special awards – the Charles E. Bennett Champion of the Environment Award and the Christi P. Veleta Environmental Award. In 2013 the JEPB began a partnership with Duval County Public Schools to celebrate and recognize leaders in the DCPS Green Champions Program. A joint award is given along with a stipend for use at the school of the chosen recipient of the award.
JEPB Awards for Outstanding Environmental Achievement
The EPB Environmental Achievement Awards recognize individuals and organizations in Duval County for superior, creative and innovative efforts in the following categories:
- Individual
- Government / Institutional (public sector or educational institution)
- Community / Civic (nonprofits, social or civic groups, neighborhood assoc., etc.)
- Business (more than 50 employees and/or annual sales of more than $5 million)
- Small Business (fewer than 50 employees and/or annual sales of $5 million or less)
As population continues to increase and resources continue to be consumed, innovation will be the foothold to environmental sustainability. Over the years, previous winners of the awards have created many innovative solutions to what were previously pollution problems.
Some past accomplishments include:
- Turning a sewage treatment facility property into a bird sanctuary
- Taking waste water and, through land application, producing sod for commercial sale while diverting over a million gallons of waste water from the municipal sewage treatment plant nearby
- Establishing a unique way of educating young students regarding water conservation by initiating a play which grew to reach all the public elementary schools in Jacksonville
- Taking steps to control beach erosion through the recycling of Christmas trees
- Individuals taking note of their surroundings to report suspicious environmental activities which resulted in the arrest of an individual for illegal dumping of pesticides
- planting trees at DCPS schools and a major reforestation project where 6,000+ trees have been planted at the Cecil Commerce Center
Announcing the 2023 Environmental Awards
The 2023 awards will be presented during a luncheon to be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at the Adam W. Herbert University Center on the campus of the University of North Florida.
Winners of the 2023 JEPB Awards
During the liunchen to be held on November 16th, awards will be presented to the winners listed below.
Government/Institutional
Seabreeze Elementary and City of Jacksonville Beach – for their dune protection project which included a poster contest and signage installed at 21 dune crossovers within the school boundaries
NS Mayport – for exceptional dedication to their military mission and environmental protection
Community/Civic
Springfield Preservation and Restoration (SPAR) – for their sustainability initiatives implemented with the Porchfest Music Festival.
Individual
Pamela Telis – for her energizing the local community to adopt, support, and actively participate in the long-term commitment to restoring, protecting, and preserving Boone Park’s green infrastructure.
Business
No Award This Year
Environmental Award of Merit
Pam Bush/UNF University Center – for longtime support of the annual Environmental Symposium which, together with her team, is one of the primary reasons the event has been successful and eagerly anticipated each year.
JEPB Resilience Champion
No Award This Year
Learn More About Our Major Awards (including 2023 winners)