Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award recognizes members of the Alexandria community who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and preserving local natural resources.
Page updated on February 17, 2026 at 2:08 PM
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2026 Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

Nominations for the 2026 Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award opens on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.  The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award honors individuals, organizations, and businesses in Alexandria that demonstrate exceptional environmental leadership.  Help celebrate April as Earth Month by submitting a nomination today! Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged! 

Submissions must be received by Monday, March 16 2026, using the online nomination form. The award will be presented to this year's recipient during the Del Ray GardenFest on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as part of the City's Earth Month activities.

See below for additional information, nomination criteria, and to submit a nomination!

About Ellen Pickering 

The award is named in honor of Ellen Pickering's lifelong dedication to preservation and conservation in the City of Alexandria. Mrs. Pickering was a longtime City activist who first gained recognition for her lobbying efforts more than 40 years ago that ultimately helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington, DC.

An active preservationist and conservationist, she was deeply committed to preserving and enhancing the City's waterfront. She urged the adoption of the City's Open Space Plan, lobbied to preserve Founder's Park and protect it from high-rise development, and implemented the planting of 1,000 citizen-donated cherry trees during her tenure as chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.

Mrs. Pickering was elected to City Council as an independent, serving for one term between 1976 and 1979. She also served on numerous City boards and commissions, including the Alexandria Beautification Commission, AlexRenew (then known as the Alexandria Sanitation Authority), the Ad Hoc Committee on Potomac Yard, the Potomac Greens Task Force, and the Open Space Steering Committee. She also chaired the Northern Virginia Conservation Council for many years. She won two Salute to Women Awards from the City's Commission on Women. She was also an active member of the League of Women Voters and the Alexandria chapter of the American Association of University Women.

Nomination Information, Rubric & Selection Process

ELIGIBILITY/Qualifications & NOMINEE INFORMATION

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award honors individuals, organizations, and businesses in Alexandria demonstrating exceptional environmental leadership. To be eligible, individual nominees must live within the City of Alexandria, and groups, clubs, organizations, and business nominees must operate within the City of Alexandria. The actions of the nominees must have a direct impact on protecting the natural environment and its resources within the City of Alexandria.  

  • Submissions must include the nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if a nominee is a group, club, organization, or business.
  • Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged!

NOMINATION DETAILS

Nominations should reflect the nominee’s environmental advocacy and stewardship, which can include protection of natural resources, energy conservation, environmental education and outreach, sustainability, water preservation and conservation, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and clean air initiatives, and more.

Strong nominations include measurable impacts, duration of efforts, and community engagement.  Provide specific, detailed information about the nominee's environmental contributions, which will be scored according to the following rubric categories. 

Those submitting nominations may also refer to Alexandria’s Eco-City Charter, adopted in 2008, that defines Alexandria’s commitment to ecological, economic, and social sustainability. The Charter’s core values and ten guiding principles formed the basis for the City’s first Environmental Action Plan (EAP) in 2009 and the updated Environmental Action Plan 2040, adopted in 2019. Both documents define the guiding principles of environmental sustainability. Visit  Eco-City Alexandria, for more information.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

The selection committee is comprised of representatives from the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, AlexRenew, and the Pickering family.

Strong Nominations will include:

  • Specific numbers (volunteers engaged, hours contributed, waste diverted, emissions reduced)
  • Clear duration ("over 2 years," "monthly," "annually")
  • Measurable outcomes (trees saved, emissions reduced, people educated)
  • Community impact (partnerships, volunteer engagement, educational reach)
  • Innovation (new programs, creative solutions, leadership)

 

The selection committee will score nominations using the following rubric categories and weighting:

 

Rubric Category #1: Environmental Impact & Accomplishments (35%)
What specific environmental actions, projects, or initiatives has the nominee undertaken? Please describe measurable outcomes when possible.
 

Examples of what to include:

  • Waste reduction, recycling, or composting programs
  • Habitat restoration, tree planting, or invasive species removal
  • Energy conservation or renewable energy implementation
  • Water quality improvements or stormwater management
  • Sustainable transportation initiatives
  • Environmental policy advocacy

 

What the selection committee will consider:

  • Reduction in air/water pollutants, waste, energy use, or carbon emission.
  • Habitat restoration, biodiversity improvement, or ecosystem health.
  • Geographic scope (neighborhood, citywide, regional)
  • Quantifiable results (tons diverted, acres restored, kWh saved)

 

Rubric Category #2: Innovation & Leadership (20%)
Has the nominee introduced creative or innovative approaches to environmental challenges? Are they pioneering new solutions in Alexandria?
 

Provide information that considers:

  • Novel solutions to local environmental problems
  • Adoption of new technologies or methods
  • Leadership in organizing or inspiring others

 

What the selection committee will consider:

  • Novel solutions to environmental challenges
  • Introduction of new processes, technologies, or concepts to Alexandria
  • Leadership role in organizing or championing environmental causes
  • Serving as a role model or thought leader

 

Rubric Category #3: Community Engagement & Education (25%)
How has the nominee engaged, educated, or mobilized the Alexandria community?
 

Include information about:

  • Number of volunteers engaged
  • Educational events, workshops, or presentations
  • Partnerships with schools, civic groups, or organizations
  • Reach of outreach efforts (number of people impacted)

 

What the selection committee will consider:

  • Number of volunteers recruited and engaged
  • Educational programs, workshops, or events hosted
  • Reach and diversity of audience (schools, civic groups, general public)
  • Ability to inspire others to take environmental action

 

Rubric Category #4: Collaborative Partnerships (10%) 
Has the nominee partnered with other individuals, organizations, or City entities? Please list partners.

 

What the selection committee will consider:

  • Partnerships with multiple organizations, schools, civic groups, or agencies
  • Cross-sector collaboration (nonprofit, business, government)
  • Ability to build consensus and unite diverse stakeholders

 

Rubric Category #5: Alignment with Ellen Pickering's Legacy (10%) 
Does the nominee embody the spirit of grassroots environmental activism?

 

What the selection committee will consider:

  • Community-driven, grassroots approach (vs. top-down mandates)
  • Sustained, long-term commitment to environmental stewardship
  • Passion, dedication, and personal sacrifice for environmental causes
  • Reflects Ellen Pickering's values of citizen activism and conservation

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Submissions must include the following:

  • The nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if a nominee is a group, club, organization, or corporate neighbor.
  • The name, address, and telephone number of the person nominating the candidate must be included.
  • Detailed descriptions of the nominee’s accomplishments and qualifications for the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.
  • By electing to accept the Ellen Pickering Environmental Award, the recipient grants permission to both AlexRenew and the City of Alexandria to use a photograph of their image for the purposes of promoting the environmental missions of the City of Alexandria and AlexRenew, as well as in promoting the award itself, both online and in print.
  • The award recipient must be available to receive the award at the Del Ray GardenFest.

APPLICATION

Submit a Nomination for the Ellen Pickering Award

EXAMPLES OF STRONG NOMINATIONS

Example 1: Individual Resident

Justin Isbell co-founded the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail and has led 118 volunteer events over 2 years, engaging 1,908 volunteers who contributed 5,425 hours to trail maintenance and invasive species removal. His work saved mature trees from destruction by removing English ivy and kudzu, allowing native plants to re-emerge. He personally operated an asphalt planer for 8-9 hours daily to grind down hundreds of trail bumps, removing safety hazards. Judd embodies grassroots environmental activism through sustained commitment and community mobilization.
 

Example 2: Community Organization

The Alexandria Composting Club launched a community composting program that diverts 2 tons of food waste from landfills monthly. They partnered with 15 schools to implement student-led composting programs, educating 3,000+ students about waste reduction. Their innovative 'Compost Ambassador' training program has certified 50 residents who provide free composting workshops. The program reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 30 cars from the road annually.
 

Example 3: Business/Institution

Green Solutions Landscaping converted their entire fleet to electric vehicles and implemented a zero-pesticide policy across all 200+ client properties. They created a native plant nursery offering free seedlings to Alexandria residents, distributing 5,000 plants that support pollinators. Their annual 'Rainwater Harvest Workshop' series has taught 500 homeowners to install rain barrels, collectively capturing 50,000 gallons of stormwater annually.

Previous Award Winners