Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Office of Boating Safety

Boating Safety Awards

The Alaska Office of Boating Safety recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations for their contributions to recreational boating safety in Alaska through its awards program. There are two general categories of awards: Education and Program. You can read about these below.

Want to submit a nomination?

Nominations should include all the information you feel is pertinent, but be limited to two pages or less (unless otherwise noted). Please include the nominee’s full name, organization or agency (if applicable), and contact information. All nominations will be treated as confidential by the award selections panel.

You can submit your nomination online or mail a hard copy.

Send hard copies to:
Annie Grenier
Alaska Office of Boating Safety
550 W. 7th Ave. Suite 1380
Anchorage, Alaska 99501

or

Submit a Nomination Here

Education Awards

Alaska Boating Safety Educator of the Year Award - Awarded by the Alaska Office of Boating Safety to a person or group who has who has made significant contributions to, and/or demonstrated outstanding performance in boating safety education during the year.

Alaska Boating Safety Educator Award of Merit - Awarded by the Alaska Office of Boating Safety to those persons or groups who were nominated for the Alaska Boating Safety Educator of the Year Award.

WSBAA Boating Safety Educator of the Year Award - Awarded by the Western States Boating Administrators Association (WSBAA) to a person or group from a member state who has who has made significant contributions to, and/or demonstrated outstanding performance in boating safety education during the year. The Alaska Office of Boating Safety forwards the winner of the Alaska Boating Safety Educator of the Year award to WSBAA for their consideration.

National Boating Safety Educator of the Year Award - Awarded by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) to a person or group from a member state who has who has made significant contributions to, and/or demonstrated outstanding performance in boating safety education during the year. The Alaska Office of Boating Safety forwards the winner of the Alaska Boating Safety Educator of the Year award to NASBLA for their consideration.

Nominations for any of the education awards are due by December 31st each year and can be emailed to joseph.mccullough@alaska.gov or mailed to this address:

Joe McCullough
Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Office of Boating Safety
550 W. Seventh Avenue, Suite 1380
Anchorage, Alaska 99501

Program Awards

You can email nominations for program awards (or questions regarding program awards) to joseph.mccullough@alaska.gov.

Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award - The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators' Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award is presented annually to boating law enforcement officers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. The award was created in 2000, through the efforts of NASBLA's Law Enforcement Committee. It consists of three levels: state, regional and national. State nominees are solicited and the state winner selected by the state boating law administrator. The winners from each state continue to one of three regional competitions where one winner per region is selected by the regional awards committees. Regional winners are then submitted to NASBLA's Awards Committee for selection of the national award, also called the Marvin "Butch" Potts Memorial Award in memory of Marvin "Butch" Potts, a boating law enforcement officer and long-time member of the Committee. Nominations are accepted from any Alaska law enforcement agency.

Hollister Award - Awarded by the Western States Boating Administrators Association (WSBAA), the Hollister Award is the Association's most prestigious award. It recognizes outstanding service in the field of boating safety by an individual or group (public or private). It was established at the first official WSBAA conference on May 11, 1962 to recognize the late Senator John J. Hollister, Jr. of California, who was then known as the "father of good boating legislation". Nominations are due by April 1.

Boating Professional of the Year Award - Awarded by the Western States Boating Administrators Association (WSBAA) to an outstanding boating program professional in any area of boating programming. Typically, but not necessarily, the winner is from that year's conference host state to ensure the winner's attendance. Nominations are due by April 1.

Public Service Award - Awarded by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) to persons that have furthered boating safety through their public relations, advertising or informational efforts. Nominations may be made to the Office of Boating Safety at any time during the year.

Award of Commendation - Awarded by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators at the request of a state or territory. The award can be given in cases where a person was considered instrumental in and directly contributed to the saving of a human life or lives. The award consists of a certificate along with a letter of commendation from the NASBLA President. Nominations may be made any time during the year, and should be sent to the Office of Boating Safety.

The Office of Boating Safety was recognized with three awards at the 2017 NASBLA conference. Education Specialist Kelli Toth was named the 2017 National Boating Safety Educator of the Year, the Office of Boating Safety was presented with the NASBLA Innovations Award, and Boating Law Administrator Jeff Johnson was inducted into the National Boating Safety Council's National Boating Safety Hall of Fame.

The Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough, and exciting.

The innovations in Outreach Award is presented to a program or initiative that demonstrates the highest level of innovation leading to advances in boating safety.

Inductees are chosen from among those who have demonstrated vital leadership and support through many years of service to boating safety.

Honorary Membership: Jeff Johnson U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (2018)

36th Annual Telly award trophy — "The State of Alaska Office of Boating Safety (OBS) has been named a two-time Bronze winner in the 36th Annual Telly Awards for its 2015 television spots for the Pledge to Live campaign titled "Pledge to Live" and "Hypothermia". With nearly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, this is a prestigious accomplishment.\ "The Telly Awards has a mission to honor the very best in film and video," said Linda Day, Executive Director of the Telly Awards. "The Office of Boating Safety's awards illustrate its dedication to using great production and creatively conveying its high value mission." \The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

Alaska Boating Safety Educator of the Year: Dean & Nanci Terencio (2014)

Jeff Johnson receiving 2014 Garner Award — Established in tribute to William B. Garner, who successfully marshaled the national first boat operator licensing law through state legislature, the Garner Award is presented to those men and women whose outstanding effort and achievement elevated state or federal policy interventions to heights not previously attained. A representative of state or federal government in active service or retired is eligible for this award.

Jeff Johnson accepting the 2014 Hollister Award — Jeff Johnson, Alaska's Boating Law Administrator was presented with the Hollister Award at the Western States Boating Administrators Association (WSBAA) annual conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.\WSBAA's oldest and most prestigious award, the Hollister award recognizes outstanding contributions to boating safety by an individual or group (public or private). \ Alaska's first boating law administrator, Jeff, has lead the Alaska Office of Boating Safety since its beginnings in 1998. Active in the boating safety community, he is currently chairman, and was a founding member of the National Boating Education Standards Panel, and is on his second term as a member of the Department of Homeland Security's National Boating Safety Advisory Council.

Jeff Johnson and Joe McCullough receiving the 2010 Compass award — "The Compass Award is a means of recognizing a NASBLA member agency for significant measures and leadership it has taken to develop a model of performance in a specific area. In the maritime domain, the compass is a tool that we use to help chart new territory or navigate through and beyond unfamiliar waters and challenges that lie ahead. Receipt of this award identifies an agency whose program, effort or initiative has truly enhanced our nation's safety and security, and one that has become a model for us to follow." (NASBLA, 2018)

Alaska Boating Safety Educator of the Year: Megan Piersma (2009)

Boating Safety Youth Award: Office of Boating Safety (2009) — The Boating Safety Youth Award, sponsored by Patron Member BoatUS Foundation, encourages the development of innovating boating safety education programs directed at youth. For a youth boating program to qualify, it must integrate safety practices into the program and be aimed at students less than 18 years of age. Selection priority will be given to unique or innovative programs with the primary goal of increasing boating safety.

Kelli Toth and Joe McCullough receiving the National Water Safety Congress' Award of Merit in 2015 — Tha National Water Safety Congress' award program recognizes the many water safety professionals, dedicated volunteers and stakeholder organizations that make outstanding contributions to water safety. The Award of Merit is awarded to an individual that the Awards Committee believes made a significant contribution or an outstanding effort to enhance or promote water safety at the local or state level.

Jeff Johnson Receiving the 2008 Bonner Award — The Bonner Award is presented to a state or federal boating official who exemplifies the leadership qualities displayed by former Congressman Herbert C. Bonner of North Carolina, author of the Bonner Act (better known as the Federal Boating Safety Act of 1958). This award has been presented to numerous United States Senators and Congressmen, state boating law administrators and Coast Guard personnel over the years.

Mission Statement

"The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation provides outdoor recreation opportunities and conserves and interprets natural, cultural, and historic resources for the use, enjoyment, and welfare of the people."

Accessibility Notice

Donate To

Office of Boating Safety

Atwood Building
550 West 7th Avenue
Suite 1380
Anchorage, AK 99501
DNR Public Information Center:
(907) 269-8400