Congratulations to the 2026 Volunteers of the Year!

Aaron Bouwkamp

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Aaron Bouwkamp has become an indispensable asset to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, demonstrating a rare level of dedication over three consecutive years of research cruises. His impact reached a high point during the 2025 season, where he provided critical support for complex closed-circuit rebreather technical dives and essential mooring buoy operations. Beyond dive support, Aaron has acted as a bridge between the Moody Gardens and sanctuary dive teams, proactively fostering collaboration to enhance collective diving capabilities. Recognizing the inherent risks of offshore research, he self-funded a week-long Dive Medical Technician certification at the NOAA Dive Center in Seattle, Washington. This commitment to hyperbaric medicine has not only elevated his personal leadership within the dive community in Texas, but has fundamentally increased the safety margin for every member of the sanctuary's offshore missions. Aaron's forward-thinking contributions ensure the sanctuary meets its conservation goals with professional-grade safety and expertise.

Michael Sheridan

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Michael Sheridan's main role is focused on education and outreach of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary at the Ocean Discovery Center in Savannah, Georgia, yet they also support all departments. During his shifts, Michael shares the importance of this natural resource, and inspires guests from all backgrounds to learn more about ocean ecosystems. As a member of the Gray's Reef Street Team, Michael furthers his impact by travelling to various events in the Southeast and educating different communities about this underwater treasure.

Additionally, Michael has led prop-building workshops and volunteer training for the Gray's Reef Marine Advanced Technology and Education (MATE) Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) program, leading to a more streamlined and successful competition. Michael also supports the science and research team with data management. Throughout their time with NOAA staff, Michael has demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication, consistently going above and beyond their assigned responsibilities to ensure projects are a success. This aptitude for initiative led to their promotion as a volunteer trainer for new volunteers at the Ocean Discovery Center and supporting the MATE ROV program. Michael is also a joy to work with, bringing a positive attitude and collaborative spirit that fosters a sense of community and inspires everyone around them.

Kyla Schatz

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Kyla Schatz has both volunteered at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary as a visitor experience specialist. She describes her time at the sanctuary as one of the top five experiences of her life, saying, "It shaped me into a better person and I met lifelong friends." Her passion for decorating and her commitment to theme help make our haunted museum events a huge success every year and very memorable for the children of the Alpena, Michigan community. Every year, Kyla and her friends spend time planning and decorating the entire upstairs portion of the visitor's center for our haunted museum event. She also stands out with her professionalism at events, moving seamlessly through the museum while capturing incredible photos of the events taking place. Her involvement within the community and her desire to make the sanctuary and Alpena a better place are evident in everything that she does!

Nathaniel (Nat) Wyatt

Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

Nathaniel (Nat) Wyatt has been a dedicated Beach Watch volunteer since 2016, surveying Goat Rock Beach and Russian River Spit in Sonoma County while also serving as Beach Watch's primary database programmer. In 2025, Nat made major contributions to the program through database code and security upgrades, development of PhotoApp data integration tools, and improvements to Beach Watch quality assurance and control systems that increased staff efficiency and strengthened long-term data management.

His behind-the-scenes technical work has greatly expanded Beach Watch's capacity to support shoreline monitoring, community science, and coastal resource protection throughout the sanctuary region. In addition, he maintains HAZWOPER 24 preparedness to support oil spill response efforts when needed. Nat is deeply appreciated not only for the extraordinary amount of time and expertise he contributes, but also for the calm, steady, and tactful approach he brings to every project.

Susie Shimamoto

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Susie Shimamoto was selected as the volunteer of the year for her steadfast support of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and her creative solutions to complex challenges. Her volunteer spirit shines through her work not only with the sanctuary, but also in her work with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She seamlessly integrates sanctuary rules, regulations, and resource information across each of these roles and is always looking for ways that we can connect across agency volunteer programs to achieve our shared resource protection and community engagement goals. From educating boaters about sanctuary preservation areas, to connecting with local businesses about safe boating resources, Susie is a champion for the Florida Keys environment and a true ambassador for the work we do.

Serena DeSteno

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Serena joined us as a student volunteer through Northeastern University. During her time with us, she spent a lot of time downloading and organizing whale and seabird data from previous years. She also made a huge contribution to our Shipwreck Mapping Initiative project, spending many hours deciphering handwritten hang logs, accounts provided by fishermen of places in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary where gear got caught up on something, providing us with potential shipwreck locations for the NOAA team to check out during surveys. Serena drafted social media posts and web updates, and helped us catch up on data entry and analysis for our Stellwagen Sanctuary Seabird Stewards program. Finally, Serena joined us for several outreach events, providing information to the public and hosting inflatable whale tours. Serena is able to accomplish all of her tasks with outstanding effort and continual growth. She is very enthusiastic, professional, and easygoing, making her a pleasure to work with!

Ruth Campbell and Richard Johnson

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Ruth Campbell and Richard Johnson have been dedicated volunteers at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center since joining the very first docent training class in 2012. Over the past thirteen years, they have contributed nearly 4,000 combined volunteer hours in support of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, including nearly 300 hours in 2025 alone. As longtime docents, they engage visitors of all ages with enthusiasm and care, helping connect marine conservation and sanctuary stewardship to everyday life. Their passion for public education, commitment to continuous improvement, and unwavering reliability have made them invaluable members of the community. Through their work, Ruth and Richard have inspired countless visitors to better understand, appreciate, and protect the ocean, directly advancing the mission of the National Marine Sanctuary System through education, outreach, and stewardship.

Raul Paiz

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Raul Paiz has been a volunteer with Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary for the past 16 years. Raul serves as a docent in the Kihei Visitor Center at least one day each week. He fixes what's broken, such as our augmented-reality sandbox and exhibits, and also leads sanctuary events, manages event parking, helps student groups, and has served as a liaison between the sanctuary and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary . This year, when one of our staff members was out for a month, we knew we could count on Raul to step up to help— whether it was transporting, setting up, and taking down the life-sized humpback whale used for education and outreach events, managing crowds at a special event, hosting our evening Sea Chats, or filling in at the visitor center when other volunteers were out of town. Raul is always there to lend a hand, which is why he is Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's Volunteer of the Year.

Gavin Chilcott, Ph.D.

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Gavin Chilcott, president of the Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is nominated for his volunteer leadership efforts with the nonprofit Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation that directly provides financial assistance to support priority projects at Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Volunteering over 150 hours in 2025, Gavin thoughtfully collaborated with sanctuary staff to understand management priorities and identify gaps in funding, then adeptly engaged foundation board members to strategize funding support for sanctuary projects that were otherwise unfunded. His volunteerism in the larger nonprofit community enhances his enthusiasm and strong leadership of the foundation which provides direct assistance to NOAA.

Tafuna High School's Science Club

National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

Sue Griffith

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Sue Griffith spends her summer Sunday mornings filling this shift at NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary's Discovery Center in Port Angeles, Washington, welcoming visitors and helping them engage with the exhibits. She has been consistent and reliable over the past 15 years in sharing her knowledge and excitement about the sanctuary. Her deep-rooted commitment is evident as she guides guests through the diverse marine ecosystems of the Olympic Coast, answering complex questions and fostering a deeper appreciation for maritime heritage and ocean conservation. As a long-standing volunteer, Sue has been vital to the center's growth and educational mission, translating complex science into accessible stories for thousands of visitors. Her long- standing routine represents a legacy of stewardship, connecting people of all ages to the sanctuary's resources, from intertidal zones to deep-sea canyons.