Some winners of the 2026 Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council awards come from the lakeshore.
The council announced five award winners, including three individuals, one organization, and a project partnership.
The winner of the Next Gen Award was David Miller, a high school Rotary Club advisor, who spearheaded a school district reforestation initiative in Sheboygan after losing over 300 ash trees to the emerald ash borer.
He’s actively engaged high school students in completing a comprehensive tree inventory across all school campuses, identifying optimal planting sites, collaborating with other organizations, and leading volunteer events. 300 new trees have been planted across six campuses, with a focus on diversity and sustainability.
The Innovation Award was given to the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory out of Port Washington, while Leadership Awards were given to Tom Jerow of Rhinelander and Jeremy Kane from Dane County’s Tree Canopy Collaborative.
Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council Chair Linda Cadotte says with the awards, “We aim to highlight just a few of the dedicated leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to urban forestry today to help ensure a healthy and resilient tree canopy tomorrow.”
