LEONARDTOWN, Md. St. Marys County Commissioners and the Commission on the Environment announced the 2025 Sustainability Award winners on Thursday. The awards highlight environmental stewardship across student, nonprofit and agriculture categories in Southern Maryland.
The winners are the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center Natural Resources Management Class in the student and school category, the St. Marys County Garden Club in the nonprofit category and Goodman LLC in the farm and agriculture category. All six nominees showed strong commitment to environmental improvement through resource conservation, community involvement and innovative practices.
The Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center Natural Resources Management Class earned recognition for hands-on restoration projects. Students collected oyster shells and built oyster reef balls to support efforts by the St. Marys River Watershed Association. They monitored and analyzed shell growth for oyster spat projects to aid habitat research.
As founding partners in the Bay Observation Box water monitoring initiative, the class gathered environmental data and raised awareness about watersheds. On land, participants removed invasive species, restored shorelines and led educational outreach. During the 2024-2025 school year, they formed the main workforce for the Gateway Garden, a native plant pollinator garden at Lexington Manor Passive Park.
Students also volunteered at the Leonardtown Library Front Yard native plant garden. Their tasks included composting, planting native species, weeding and landscape maintenance. Composting efforts produced soil for native plant growth. The class shared knowledge through festival and library exhibits, lessons for elementary students and support for school gardens.
The St. Marys County Garden Club received the nonprofit award. Its Conservation and Environmental Committee delivers monthly updates on conservation issues and coordinates civic activities with funding and volunteer support. In 2025, the club maintained three native gardens: the Front Yard native garden at Leonardtown Library, a garden at the St. Marys County Animal Resource and Adoption Center and the Leonardtown Parkette on Leonardtown Square.
Club members helped relaunch Leonardtowns Butterfly Trail. They hosted public presentations and displays on native plants, supported a native plant swap and mentored natural resource management students. These efforts promote ecological awareness and sustainable gardening in the community.
Goodman LLC earned the agriculture and farming award. The company has served Southern Maryland since 2021 and opened a roadside farmstand in St. Marys County in 2024 to expand access to native plant species. Availability of native plants supports pollinators, maintains niche species, balances ecosystems and encourages low-maintenance landscapes.
The business provides expertise on sustainable practices including pollinator-friendly plantings, soil health and responsible land management. Its approach combines environmental commitment with practical guidance for residents.
Three organizations received honorable mentions: the Mount Zion United Methodist Church Green Team, Friends of St. Clements Bay and the Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers. Selection criteria emphasized efforts that exceed standard practices to improve the local environment.
Awards will be presented at the annual St. Marys County Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Summerseat Farm in Mechanicsville. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features family-friendly activities focused on environmental education.
These awards underscore ongoing work to protect St. Marys Countys natural resources. Projects align with broader Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, including oyster habitat recovery and native plant promotion, which benefit water quality, wildlife and community resilience in Southern Maryland. Student involvement builds future stewards while nonprofit and farm efforts deliver immediate, visible impacts across public spaces and private lands.
The Commission on the Environment continues to seek nominations each year to recognize similar contributions. Past awards have highlighted comparable initiatives that strengthen local ecosystems and public engagement. This years honorees demonstrate measurable progress in habitat restoration, education and sustainable business practices tailored to the regions unique environmental challenges.
