Awards

NYSA Awards

Awards are presented at the Winter Conference in January. Contact NYSA headquarters at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-694-5507 for more information on submitting a nomination.

Brian Skinner Lifetime Achievement Award is a special award presented to someone who has made exceptional and sustained contributions to our industry over that person’s entire working life.

President's Award recognizes outstanding service by a volunteer.

Distinguished Arborist Award is presented to a respected colleague who has furthered arboriculture in New York State.

Professional Field Arborist Award is given to an arborist who has made a significant improvement in professional "hands on" tree care, heroism or creating a better field practice.

Gold Leaf Award recognizes individuals, organizations, or communities for outstanding Arbor Day programs or community landscape beautification projects.

Research & Education Award is presented to a researcher who is working on important research and education that would foster improvement in the arboricultural industry.

Senior Scholar's Award is presented to an individual whose professional studies have made significant advances in the field of arboriculture.

Click HERE to submit a nomination.

Past Award Winners

Brian Skinner Lifetime Achievement Award

2022 Christopher Luley
2021 Rex Webber
2020 Mary Kramarcyk Beck
2019 Al Lane
2015 Dr. George Hudler

President's Award

2022 Art Brooks
2021 Teresa Griefenberger
2019 James Maloney
2018 Nelson Sterner
2016 Fred Soviero
2014 The Broyles Family
2012 Frazer Pehmoeller
2009 Trevor Hall
2008 Dr. George Good (Posthumous)
2007 Ann Frank
2006 Anna Ryan
2005 Brian Skinner
2005 Gregory B. Frank
2004 Joseph Broyles
2002 Doug Wade/Michael Skivington
2001 Rex Bradley Webber
2000 David Hayner
1999 Joseph Broyles and Family
1998 Salvatore Pezzino

Distinguished Arborist Award

2022 Carmine Serpe
2021 Herbert F. Frost III
2020 Dawn Dailey O'Brien
2018 Ralph Padilla
2016 Joel Greifenberger
2015 Vincent Simeone
2013 Douglas Wade (Posthumous)
2012 Matthew Mosher
2009 David B. Dailey Jr.
2008 Thomas Draves
2007 Michael Grimm
2006 Brian C. Skinner
2005 Gregory B. Frank
2004 Dr. George Hudler
2003 Thomas Mullarney
2002 Lawrence Borger
2001 Sal Pezzino
2000 David Hayner
1999 Arthur Sandstrom (Posthumous)
1998 Dr. George Good
1997 Robert A. Bartlett Jr.
1996 George H. Callaway
1995 Daniel Finegan
1994 Jon Hickey
1993 ErikHaupt (Posthumous)
1992 Richard Wickey
1991 Phil Brogan (Posthumous)
1990 Fred Donovan
1989 Carmine Serpe
1988 Raymond M. Smith
1987 Robert Crandall
1986 Leo Cook
1985 Carl Lundborg

Field Arborist Award

2022 William Snyder
2021 Wayne Cahilly
2020 Gregory Michel
2019 Daniel Deyle
2014 Joel Greifenberger
2013 Christopher Roddick
2012 Jeremy Sayers
2009 Brian Krawczyk
2008 Mike Orsino
2007 Brian Krawczyk
2006 Brian Krawczyk
2005 Mark Moeske
2004 Trevor Hall
2003 Joel Greifenberger
2002 Mark Moeske
2001 A.J. Remy
2000 Justin Donahue
1999 Bruce Duffy
1998 Mike Orsino
1997 Peter Galon
1996 Ralph Padilla

Research & Education Award

2022 Prof. Rebecca Hargrave, SUNY Morrisville
2022 Dr. Ed Gilman
2014 Don Nelson, NYS DEC
2013 Dr. Mark Whitmore, Cornell University
2012 Rick Harper & Stephanie Radin
2008 Dr. Chris Luley
2007 Ben Ballard
2006 Branching Out/George Hudler
2005 Branching Out/George Hudler
2004 Nassau County Horticulture Program
2003 Branching Out/George Hudler
2002 Branching Out/George Hudler
2001 Branching Out/George Hudler
2000 Branching Out/George Hudler
1999 Branching Out
1998 Branching Out
1997 Branching Out
1997 Branching Out
1996 Branching Out
1995 Dr. Warren Johnson
1993 New York Botanic Garden
1989 Wayne Sinclair
1988 Kitchawan Laboratory
1986 Brooklyn Botanical Garden(Craig Hibben – Dogwood Anthracnose)
1985 Cornell University (Sinclair, Johnson, Lyon – Tree Disease Book)

Gold Leaf Award

2021 Trevor Hall
2017 Richard Almstead
2015 Long Island Arboriculture Association
2014 Thomas Herrera-Mishler
2013 ReTree Schenectady
2012 Jared Webber
2008 Bartlett Tree Experts
2005 Thomas Draves
2004 Mary Kramarchyk
2003 Thomas Draves
2002 Timothy Chick
2001 Brian Skinner
2000 Deborah Goedeke
1999 Henry J. Stern Johnson
1998 Senator Owen
1997 The New York Botanic Garden
1996 Long Island Arboricultural Association
1995 Brian Skinner
1994 Charles Schulz
1993 Wolcas Advertising
1992 Ralph Snodsmith
1991 Patrick Knowles, Samuel Kissinger
1990 Bart Fusco
1989 Margaret Herbst
1988 Dave Hayner, James Taylor, Jon Hickey
1987 Town of Hebron

Scholar's Award

2015 Nina Bassuk, Cornell University
2008 Randall Swanson
2007 Christopher Nowak
2006 NYS Urban & Community Forestry Council
2005 Margery Daughtery
2004 Dr. Daniel Gilrein
2003 Dr. Chris Luley
2002 Peter Donzelli
2001 Wei Fang
2000 Scott Clark
1999 Jerry Bond
1998 Jason Grabosky
1996 Dr. Warren Johnson Tree Endowment
1995 Dr. George Good
1994 William Smith
1993 Dr. Nina Bassuk
1992 Dr. Donald Rakow
1989 Dr. Warren Johnson
1988 Dr. Pascal P. Pirone
1987 Dr. Wayne Sinclair
1986 Dr. Gerald Lanier
1985 Dr. George Hudler

Scholarship Award

2022 Darren Johnson, Gerald Klubek and Camberly VanValkenburg
2021 Griffin Smith and Laura Grant
2020 Laura Grant and Daniel Sax
2012 Mark Bouquin
2010 Emily Tinalli
2005 Cordella Fox
2004 Justin Paolicelli
2003 ISA Student Society of Arboriculture
2002 Keith Maynard
2001 Jackson Dodds
2000 Andrea Arnold
1999 Ryan McElhinney
1998 Matthew Blaich 1997 School of Professional Horticulture
1996 Suzanne Allen
1995 Eleanor Bower
1994 Darren Morgan
1993 Harry Pearsall
1992 Christopher Reynolds
1991 Denise Bouck
1990 Keith Knopick
1989 Heather Bohlman
1988 Richard Wlonsinski