Go Blue Award Past Recipients & Finalists
Eleanor Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award
Named for the founder of Loggerhead Marinelife Center, recognizes an individual who has exemplified a lifelong, extraordinary commitment to marine conservation through their work or volunteer activities.
2009: Gary Adkison - Director U.S. Shark Foundation
2010: Nathaniel Reed - Everglades Foundation
2011: Jim Abernethy - Shark Conservationist
2012: Hardy Jones - Executive Director Bluevoice.org
2013: Dr. Guy Harvey - Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
2014: Dr. Jeanette Wyneken - Florida Atlantic University
2015: Dr. Sylvia Earle - National Geographic Society, Former Chief Scientist N.O.A.A.
2016: Louie Psihoyos - Oceanic Preservation Society
2017: Ted Turner - Turner Foundation
2018: Dr. Charlie A. Manire - Loggerhead Marinelife Center
2019: Dr. Edith Widder - Ocean Research & Conservation Association
2020: Lad Akins - REEF, Frost Museum of Science
2021: Dr. Nancy Knowlton - Researcher, Thought Leader, Author
2022: Roderic B. Mast - President & CEO, Oceanic Society
2023: No Awards
2024: Jim Toomey - Creator of the daily comics trip Sherman’s Lagoon
2025: Kerry Sanders - Former National News Correspondent
Blue Ambassador of the Year
Recognizes a person who has made significant contributions in marine conservation through volunteer-related activities.
2010: Captain Don Voss
2011: Joe Zavertnik - LMC Volunteer
2012: Sara Brenes - Shark Whisperer
2013: Kirt Rusenko - Gumbo Limbo
2014: Laura Eldredge - Marine Rescue Animal Society
2015: Tracy Siani - Citizen Scientist
2016: Scott Harris - The Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation
2017: Linda Cabot - Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
2018: Anja Burns - LMC Volunteer
2019: Giacomo Abrusci - Seven Seas Media
2020: Jillian Morris - Shark4Kids
2021: Marilu Cristina Flores - Conservation Key
2022: Shelby Thomas - 1,000 Mermaids
2023: No Awards
2024: Nan Hauser - Center for Cetacean Research & Conservation
Blue Hatchling Youth Award
Recognizes students up to and including 12th grade who have made significant contributions in marine conservation through volunteer-related activities.
2014: Christian, Derek, Landon Petrisko - Wild Over Wildlife Founders
2015: Lilly & Trent Tougas - Youth Ocean Ambassadors
2016: Brooke Welch
2017: Olivia & Carter Ries - One More Generation
2018: Madison Toonder
2019: Emily Horgen
2020: Miles Fetherston-Resch
2021: Ryan Moralevitz
2022: Ajani Stella - Kids Fight Climate Change
2023: No Awards
2024: Asa Miller
Blue Friend of the Year
Recognizes a person who has made significant contributions in marine conservation through work-related
activities.
2009: Dr. Edie Widder - Ocean Research & Conservation Association
2010: Michael J. Bresette - Inwater Research Group
2011: National Winner - Susan Murray - Oceana
2011: Local Winner - Steven Allen - Palm Beach Maritime Academy
2012: Dr. Barbara Brunnick - Taras Oceanographic Association
2013: Marty Baum - Indian River Lagoon Keeper
2014: Captain Rich Brochu - Florida Fishing Academy Founder
2015: Jon A. Moore - FAU Honors College
2016: Dr. Derek Burkholder - NOVA Southeastern University
2017: Dr. Mikki-McComb Kobza - Ocean First Institute
2018: Jacqueline Kingston - Sea Turtle Adventures
2019: Rebecca Mott - Inwater Research
2020: Daniela Fernandez - Sustainable Ocean Alliance
2021: Linda Emerson - Wildbluesea
2022: Leneita Fix - The Reef Institute, Executive Director
2023: No Awards
Blue Business/Nonprofit of the Year
Recognizes a business or nonprofit that has made outstanding contributions toward promoting and encouraging conservation, restoration, or preservation of marine life and/or marine ecosystems through their business practices, products, or technology.
2009: International Game Fish Association
2010: Large Business: Florida Power & Light Small Business: Radio Green Earth
2011: Rapid Removal
2012: Jupiter Dive Center
2013: Coral Restoration Foundation
2014: Worth Avenue Association
2015: The Breakers Resort Palm Beach
2016: Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department
2017: The Scuba Club
2018: Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation
2019: 4Ocean, LLC
2020: One World Zero Waste
2021: MANG
2022: Brightmark
2023: No Awards
2024: Inwater Research Group
Blue Nonprofit of the Year
Recognizes a nonprofit that has made outstanding contributions toward promoting and encouraging conservation, restoration, or preservation of marine life and/or marine ecosystems through their business practices, products, or technology.
2020: American Shark Conservancy
2021: Aquarium Conservation Partnership
2022: Florida Marine Science Educators Association
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
2009: Dr. Greg Marshall - Nat Geo, filmmaker, creator of Crittercam
2010: Brian Skerry - Nat Geo, Photographer
2011: Dr. Sylvia Earle - Her Deepness
2012: David Doubilet - Nat Geo, Photographer
2013: Jim Toomey - Creator of Sherman’s Lagoon, Executive Director, Mission Blue
2014: Fabien Cousteau - Aquanaut
2015: Joel Sartore - Nat Geo, Photo Ark
2016: Paul Nicklen - Nat Geo, SeaLegacy
2017: Brian Skerry - Nat Geo, Photographer
2018: Jeff Corwin - Biologist, host of Wildlife Nation
2019: Dr. Bob Ballard - Retired Navy officer, Discovered RMS Titanic
2020: Joel Sartore - Nat Geo, Photo Ark
2021: Dr. Sylvia Earle - Her Deepness
2022: Dr. Wallace J. Nichols - Blue Mond
2023: No Awards
2024: Jim Toomey - Creator of the daily comics trip Sherman’s Lagoon
2025: Kerry Sanders, Former National News Correspondent
About The Go Blue Awards
The Go Blue Awards program was created to recognize individuals and businesses that directly or indirectly support LMC’s mission to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Previous Go Blue Award recipients include Dr. Guy Harvey, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation; Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue; Hardy Jones - Executive Director, Bluevoice.org; Nathaniel Reed, Everglades Foundation; Dr. Edith Widder, Ocean Research & Conservation Association; Florida Power & Light Company; Gary Adkison, U.S. Shark Foundation; International Game Fish Association; and Coral Restoration Foundation.
Please note: there are no refunds or exchanges for purchased tickets. All sales are final.