LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Commission on the Environment is accepting nominations for the 2025 Sustainability Awards, honoring county residents, businesses, schools, farms, restaurants, non-profits and households that have shown exceptional commitment to protecting and improving the local environment.
The annual program recognizes voluntary projects or initiatives completed during the 2025 calendar year that advance resource conservation, pollution prevention, environmental stewardship or innovative best practices. Efforts that go beyond basic regulatory compliance are eligible for consideration.
Categories are open to any individual, household, school, student group, farm, agricultural organization, restaurant, business or non-profit organization based in St. Mary’s County.
Past recipients include the Southern Maryland Sierra Club, the Environmental Division at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners, Bay Fibers Studio and Enso Kitchen.
The Commission on the Environment, a volunteer advisory board appointed by the County Commissioners, created the awards program to highlight measurable actions that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed, reduce waste, conserve energy and water, protect wildlife habitat or promote sustainable agriculture within the county.
Nominations may be submitted by anyone in the community and do not require the nominee’s prior permission. Self-nominations are also accepted.
The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, February 28, 2026.
Nomination forms are available online at https://forms.gle/Rbhg2vpzh5HC4JQt5 or may be emailed to CoEStMarys@gmail.com. The short form asks for basic contact information, a description of the nominee’s 2025 project or ongoing efforts, and an explanation of the environmental benefits achieved.
Award recipients will be selected by the Commission on the Environment and recognized at a public ceremony in spring 2026.
For questions about the nomination process or the awards program, contact the Commission on the Environment through the email address above.