The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is now accepting nominations for its second annual Oregon Stewardship Award.

Administered by the museum’s advisory council, the award recognizes an individual or organization that has significantly involved the community in an environmental or cultural heritage project, one that aligns with the museum's mission to inspire stewardship of Oregon’s collective past, present and future.

The recipient of the award will receive $1,000 and be recognized at an award reception, in museum publications and on an “Oregon Heroes” display panel in the museum's Explore Oregon exhibit.

Online nominations for the 2019 award must be submitted by Thursday, Jan. 31, and the recipient will be announced March 1. Nomination forms are available on the museum’s website.

Oregon individuals, community groups, nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools and higher education institutions are all eligible nominees, as are national and regional organizations with offices or affiliates in Oregon. Eligible projects are Oregon-based and relate directly to Oregon’s environment or cultural heritage.

To be considered, projects must have meaningful community impact and be ongoing or completed during the 2018 calendar year.

The museum invites groups and individuals to self-nominate. Nominations also will be accepted from third parties wishing to recognize stewardship of Oregon’s environmental or cultural heritage by a group or individual.

“Every day, the museum’s stewardship mission brings us into contact with Oregon heroes, people who are doing amazing work to protect and preserve our ecosystems, landscapes and cultures,” said Jon Erlandson, the museum’s executive director. “The Oregon Stewardship Award will help shine well-deserved light on that work.”

—By Kristin Strommer, Museum of Natural and Cultural History