The Land Conservancy Honors Community Members with Its 2025 Awards
- Kyle Semmel
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Each year, the Land Conservancy recognizes individuals who've made outstanding contributions to our organization's mission. We are thrilled to announce our 2025 recipients. They will be honored at our upcoming Conservation Celebration on September 25.
Henry J. Kreher Conservation Award
Steve Still and Terrie Tucker grew up, classmates and friends, in Palmyra, NY. After graduation, each went their separate ways. Steve studied Forestry at SUNY ESF before transferring to University at Buffalo and switching majors to transportation engineering. This led him to a career in airline planning, where he founded two successful start-up companies in aviation consulting and IT. After earning her BA in Economics and an MBA, Terrie worked in the healthcare field in Canada for many years, primarily in hospital administration. Though their lives took them far afield, they never strayed from their humble, small-town roots. Wherever they traveled, time spent in nature was a critical part of their health and wellbeing. After reconnecting at a class reunion nearly two decades ago, Steve and Terrie have built a life together at the Chautauqua Institution, where they now live. Over the past few years, eager to protect and connect our Western New York forests, they have championed and supported our work. This includes a substantial gift made to ensure the permanent protection of a vital WNY Wildway property in Cattaraugus County.
Volunteer of the Year
As an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Education department at UB, Corey Schimpf knows a thing or two about communicating complex ideas to students. In his lab, he focuses on developing the tools people need to learn. As a volunteer with the Land Conservancy, he's discovered that getting his hands good and grubby in the field is a fantastic way to recharge his batteries. Whether he's pulling weeds at our Stella Niagara Preserve, greeting visitors at our Mossy Point Preserve opening, or removing buckthorn and honeysuckle at our Owens Falls Sanctuary or Kenneglenn Scenic & Nature Preserve, Corey's fresh perspective and positive, can-do spirit have been a staple at volunteer events for years. His enthusiasm rubs off on others, including our staff, and we are grateful for his many important contributions. "I take a long view of what we call 'nature'," Corey says. "Since it operates on a different timescale than ours, I know it will thrive if given the chance. To me, volunteering means helping our natural world grow and thrive for the future ahead."