A New 5,000 Hour Volunteer and Other New Milestone Achievements

​The VMN State Program office recognizes volunteers who complete 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 hours of service.  These are cumulative volunteer hours starting when a volunteer joins the program.  Many of our chapters recognize additional interim milestones and achievements.  

Below, we have listed the volunteers who have achieved these milestones between August 2019 and December 2019 (based on reports received by our office as of January 31.)  Some of these volunteers have demonstrated long-term dedication through many years with the program.  Others have joined the program more recently, but they have done extraordinary levels of service in a short time frame.  We are honored to have all of them sharing their time and talents as Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers, and we are pleased to recognize their efforts in this newsletter and with special milestone pins.  Their names are listed alphabetically within each chapter.

In addition, although we cannot list them all here, we are thrilled to recognize the 1,483 Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers who certified or re-certified for 2019, meaning they completed 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continuing education. Congratulations, everyone!

Thank you to Tiffany Brown, VMN project assistant, for compiling these lists!

Woman with Virginia Master Naturalist nametag standing by Rivanna Master Naturalist display tableIda Swenson, Certified Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer in the Rivanna Chapter.

The 5,000 Hour Circle Grows with the Addition of Ida Swenson

Completing 5,000 hours of Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer service is no easy task.  To date, only ten volunteers have achieved this distinction.  

By the end of 2019, Ida Swenson joined this exclusive VMN club.  Ida is one of the founding members of Rivanna Master Naturalist Chapter and an active participant in multiple capacities.  Cindy Westley, Past President of the chapter, writes, “Her knowledge of nature and science is wide-ranging.  As a former middle school teacher, she is very comfortable teaching children of all ages using abstract concepts and hands-on resources.  Kids immediately relate to her because she teaches on their level, where they live, but with a sense of how to keep the learning experience on track.   She is imaginative and interesting and, well, she is cool. Whether it’s working a table at a public science event or community festival or teaching Master Naturalist trainees in the introductory course, Ida is always able to capture the attention and imagination of her audience. She is knowledgeable, dedicated, reliable and really enjoys herself.  The RMN and VMN are fortunate to have her as a member and leader.”

Ida joins Marian Childress (Tidwater), Shirley Devan (Historic Rivers), John Ford (New River Valley), Cheryl Jacobson (Historic Rivers), Les Lawrence (Historic Rivers), Susan Powell (Historic Rivers), Jack Price (Old Rag), Jim Scibek (Central Rappahannock), and Robert Toner (Eastern Shore) as part of this 5,000 hour circle of amazing volunteers!


2,500 Hours
Marilyn Schroeder, Fairfax
Lisa Matthews, Merrimac Farm
Stephen Bridges, New River Valley
Laura Marlowe, Peninsula
Eric Gray, Pocahontas
Janet Schroeder, Tidewater
Drew Avery, Tidewater

1,000 Hours
Norm H. Bell, Alleghany Highlands
Bonnie Bernstein, Alleghany Highlands
Toni Genberg, Arlington Regional
Philip George, Arlington Regional
Hillary Davidson, Banshee Reeks
Bette Dzamba, Central Blue Ridge
Bill Bensiek, Central Virginia
Dr. Greg Eaton, Central Virginia
Stephen Lichiello, Central Virginia
Nancy Pryor, Central Virginia
Lee Spradlin, Central Virginia
Peter Pulman, Eastern Shore
Mimi Stitt, Eastern Shore
Mike Bishop, Fairfax
Robin Duska, Fairfax
Cathy Ledec, Fairfax
Kate Guenther, Headwaters
Sherry Brubaker, Historic Rivers
Karen Grass, Historic Rivers
Thad Hecht, Historic Rivers
Keith Navia, Historic Rivers
Linda Maddra, Historic Southside
Suan Crockett, Middle Peninsula
Rose Sullivan, Middle Peninsula
Brenda Graff, New River Valley
Judith McCord, New River Valley
Arlene Crabbe-Kilduff, Northern Neck
Beth Kendrick, Northern Neck
Dee Dee Lyon, Old Rag
Troy Bonavita, Peninsula
Shirley Church, Peninsula
Claire Neubert, Peninsula
Beverly Nunnally, Peninsula
Susie Engle, Peninsula
Madison Ryan, Pocahontas
Marjie Giuliano, Rivanna
David Smith, Rivanna
Nancy Weiss, Rivanna
Laura Woody, Riverine
Regina Prunty, Roanoke Valley
Andrew Miller, Shenandoah
Ruth Martin, Tidewater

500 Hours
Dawn Peck, Alleghany Highlands
Charlie Kahle, Alleghany Highlands
Renee Grebe, Arlington Regional
David Howe, Arlington Regional
Stephanie Martin, Arlington Regional
Anne Ellis, Banshee Reeks
Cynthia Elkey, Central Blue Ridge
Bernice Thiebolt, Central Blue Ridge
Mary Ames, Central Piedmont
Cathy Pritchett, Central Rappahannock
Leslie Raterman, Central Rappahannock
Kathy Brandt, Central Virginia
Kyrina Johnson, Central Virginia
Joseph Allison, Eastern Shore
Sharon Renshaw, Eastern Shore
Judy Dority, Fairfax
Helaine Krob, Fairfax
Ashley Ossher, Fairfax
Dave Jacobson, Fairfax
Malcolm G. Cameron, Jr., Headwaters
Adrie Voors, Headwaters
Chris Allgyer, High Knob
Paxton Allgyer, High Knob
Gena Kiser, High Knob
Louis Amato, Historic Rivers
William Harper, Historic Rivers
Lisa Nickel, Historic Rivers
Judy Tucker, Historic Rivers
Della Carmean, Historic Southside
Claudia Lee, Historic Southside
Brenda Peters, Historic Southside
Monica Hoel, Holston Rivers
Marica Pruner,
Holston Rivers

Kathy Dunn, James River
Tom Attanaro, Merrimac Farm
Rosemarie Nielsen, Merrimac Farm
Charlie Price, Merrimac Farm
Henry “Hurrican” Thompson, Middle Peninsula
Carl Absher, New River Valley
Barbara Glaser, New River Valley
Joan Kark, New River Valley
Marshal McCord, New River Valley
Marcia Murphy, New River Valley
Chris Sokol, New River Valley
Kevin Howe, Northern Neck
Grace Cangialosi, Old Rag
Charles Fortuna, Old Rag
David Boehnlein, Peninsula
Anne Graber, Peninsula
Beverly Heimback, Peninsula
Caroline Herath, Peninsula
Phyllis Kohnman, Peninsula
Ward Phelps, Peninsula
Gary Wright, Peninsula
Jeanette Yoh, Peninsula
Willie Fielder, Pocahontas
Jane Hesler, Pocahontas
Deborah Luzynski-Weber, Rivanna
Mary Tilman, Rivanna
Roderick Walker, Rivanna
Timothy Weber, Rivanna
Laura Greenleaf, Riverine
Winifred Hebb, Riverine
Robert Garst, Roanoke Valley
Scott Karns, Roanoke Valley
Framk Simms, Roanoke Valley
Phyllis Partain, Shenandoah
Paul May, Southwestern Piedmont
Lizz Stanley, Southwestern Piedmont
Bob Humphries, Southwestern Piedmont
Susan Elder, Tidewater
Elizabeth Mauer, Tidewater
Rogard Ross, Tidewater
Theresa Tyson, Tidewater

250 Hours
Chris Baroody, Alleghany Highlands
Aileen Spurgeon, Alleghany Highlands
Jo Allen, Arlington Regional
Kit Britton, Arlington Regional
Mary Martha Churchman, Arlington Regional
Katherine Cox, Arlington Regional
Allison Farrow, Arlington Regional
Joan Haffey, Arlington Regional 
Tom Hahn, Arlington Regional 
Alda Krinsman, Arlington Regional 
Carol Mullen, Arlington Regional
Kara Pascale, Arlington Regional
Kristin Henderson, Banshee Reeks
Renee Kitt, Banshee Reeks
Kim Norgaard, Banshee Reeks
Kim Bryant, Central Blue Ridge
Stephan Cassola, Central Blue Ridge
Anne Colgate, Central Blue Ridge
Michael Fisher, Central Blue Ridge
Michael Lachance, Central Blue Ridge
Mike Tabony, Central Blue Ridge
Armand Thiebolt, Central Blue Ridge
Bobi Thornhill, Central Blue Ridge
Shannon Brennan, Central Virginia
Carla Bruce, Central Virginia
Jim Crunk, Eastern Shore
Patricia Magee, Eastern Shore
Donna Nelson, Eastern Shore
Marguerite Long, Eastern Shore
Wendy Cohen, Fairfax
William (Scott) Schroth, Fairfax
Jerry Nissley, Fairfax
Liz Train, Fairfax
Janet James, Headwaters
Janet Joseph, Headwaters
Frances Sale, Headwaters
Myrel Short, High Knob
Beth Walker, High Knob
Mary Haines, Historic Rivers
Wendy Nelson, Historic Rivers
Pat Murphy, Historic Rivers
Cynthia Edwards, Historic Southside
John Wass, Historic Southside
Tanya Hall, Holston Rivers
Sharon Trumbley, Holston Rivers
Stan Tucker, Holston Rivers
James Warden, Holston Rivers
Joan Golden, James River
William Pawleski, James River
Judith Wyatt, James River
Terri Mewborn, Merrimac Farm
Carol Tretkoff, Merrimac Farm
Jan Towne, Middle Peninsula
Dan Camden, New River Valley
Stephen Cole, New River Valley
Rebecca Kidwell, New River Valley
Bill Opengari, New River Valley
Robert Whiton, New River Valley
Mindy Ashton, Northern Neck
Stuart Ashton, Northern Neck
Sandy Dodge, Northern Neck
Bonnie Beers, Old Rag
Ann Bowman, Old Rag
Alex Bueno, Old Rag
Mary O’Meara, Old Rag
William Schoenborn, Old Rag
Dorothy “Tepp” Tepper
Dawn Bonavita, Peninsula
Kathy Gallo, Peninsula
Christy Gardner, Peninsula
Nancy Ivey, Peninsula
Pamela Reilly, Peninsula
Ande Remington, Peninsula
Heidi Ott, Peninsula
Charlie Bridges, Pocahontas
Allan Heasty, Pocahontas
Laurie McAleenan, Pocahontas
Sue Tait, Pocahontas
Deb Tussey, Pocahontas
Jeanne Walter, Pocahontas
Mary Wickham, Pocahontas
Jack Rayburn, Pocahontas
Theresa Rayburn, Pocahontas
Victoria Dye, Rivanna
Julie Farrell, Rivanna
Jennifer Gaden, Rivanna
Page Hutchinson, Rivanna
Christine Kastan, Rivanna
Marilyn Koleszar, Rivanna
Dan Kulund, Rivanna
Martha Ledford, Rivanna
Melanie Perl, Rivanna
Barbara Wallace, Rivanna
Peppy Winchel, Rivanna
Gareth Hunt, Rivanna
Terry Atkinson, Riverine
Don Mohar, Riverine
Dabney Robinson, Riverine
Robin Bailey, Roanoke Valley
Neil Myers, Shenandoah
Sue Teal, Shenandoah
Jessica Phillips, Southwestern Piedmont
Brian Phillips, Southwestern Piedmont
Alan Carter, Tidewater
Charlotte Chagnon, Tidewater
Mike Hoffman, Tidewater
Sarah Howard, Tidewater
Beth King, Tidewater
Karen McMillian, Tidewater
Kathy Wakefield, Tidewater

0 thoughts on “A New 5,000 Hour Volunteer and Other New Milestone Achievements”

    1. Michelle Prysby

      Thanks for letting us know. It turned out that a technical glitch had cut off the last grouping of names, but I’ve added them back in now.

    1. Michelle Prysby

      Thanks, Judy. I don’t see you on the list that we have in our files, but I’ll check with Tiffany to find out what might have happened and will fix it.

  1. Deborah Luzynski-Weber

    Please correct the spelling of my last name from Luzynski-Webter to Luzynski-Weber. Thanks much!

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