Each year, Trees SC recognizes individuals, organizations and municipalities for their contribution to the urban forests in South Carolina.  Trees SC has two annual awards: the Golden Acorn Awards and the Heritage Tree Award.

Golden Acorn Awards

Golden Acorn for Distinguished Professional Service Award

This award recognizes a professional for his/her outstanding contribution to urban and/or community forestry. Nominees can include foresters, arborists, growers, educators, and any other profession that has made a significant contribution to the field of urban forestry.  To be eligible for an award, the nominee must be a current resident of South Carolina; actively employed in the field of urban and/or community forestry or a related field; and have a minimum of five years experience working on behalf of South Carolina’s urban and community forests.  Preference will be given to members of Trees SC.  Past award winners include Liz Gilland, Jane Hayes, Tom Knowles, Jack Walker, Debbie Price, Dr. Howard Tucker, Dr. Don Ham, Dr. Judy Caldwell, Eric Schultz and Robert McCartney.

Golden Acorn for Distinguished Volunteer Service Award

This award recognizes an individual for their outstanding contribution to urban and/or community forestry as a volunteer.  Nominees must be a volunteer that has worked directly with a forester, arborist, grower, educator, community leader, elected official, or any other related organization that supports and promotes urban and/or community forestry.  The volunteer must reside in and volunteer in South Carolina.  Past award winners include Mary Lou Jones and Mayo Read.

Golden Acorn Outstanding Community Forestry Program Award

This award recognizes a community organization that provides exemplary leadership and vision to a comprehensive urban and/or community forestry program.  Activities can include, but are not limited to, beautification, fundraising, partnerships, tree planting or preservation, scheduled tree maintenance, tree inventories, public education, and memorial tree planting programs.  To be eligible for an award, the nominee must be a program managed by a community group or organization within South Carolina that has been in existence for more than 12 months.  Preference will be given to members of Trees SC.  Past award winners include the Town of McClellanville, the Camden Tree Foundation and the Hitchcock Woods Foundation.

Golden Acorn Outstanding Community Forestry Program Award

This award recognizes governments, universities and colleges, corporations and state agencies that provide exemplary leadership and vision to a comprehensive urban forestry program.  Activities can include, but are not limited to, beautification, fundraising, partnerships, tree planting or preservation, scheduled tree maintenance, tree inventories, public education, and memorial tree planting programs.  To be eligible for an award, the nominee must be a municipality, institute of higher education, land-grant institution, corporation, state agency or government entity located within South Carolina that has at least one forester on staff.   Preference will be given to members of Trees SC.  Past award winners include the City of Irmo, City of Florence, Clemson University, City of Dillon, Town of Hilton Head Island, Charleston Trees, Lexington County, the City of Charleston and Cypress Gardens.

Heritage Tree Award

This award identifies, celebrates and recognizes remarkable trees in South Carolina.  Trees may be nominated as an individual or as a group, and are recognized by virtue of its age, its association with a historic structure or district, its association with a noted person or historic event, or its overall significance to the community that may or may not be historical.  All trees nominated must be located in South Carolina either on public property or on private property which is easily accessible free of charge.  Heritage Tree winners will receive a bronze plaque and agree to display the plaque in close proximity to the tree.  The owner of the tree will be responsible for incurring all costs related to mounting the award.  Past award winners include the White Oak (Irmo), the Deerhead Oak (McClellanville), Wade Hampton Oak (Conway), Boundary Street oak allee (Aiken), Horseshoe (USC), the Angel Oak (Charleston), the Centennial Bur Oak (Clemson), and the Southern Magnolia (Winthrop University).  Trees SC would like to thank Bartlett Tree Experts for sponsoring the Heritage Tree Award.

Make a nomination!

Note:

This year’s awards program is now closed.  Please check back next summer for information on the 2012 awards program.