The City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and AlexRenew, the public wastewater treatment authority serving the City of Alexandria, are accepting nominees for the 2025 Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. This award recognizes members of the Alexandria community who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and preserving local natural resources. Nominations must be received by Friday, March 14, 2025. 

The City of Alexandria will celebrate Earth Month 2025: Steps to a Greener Alexandria with several activities throughout the month of April and will announce the Pickering Award winner during the Del Ray GardenFest on Sunday, April 27, 2025. 

The award was established to honor the legacy of the late Ellen Pickering, a former member of both the City Council and the board of AlexRenew. Ms. Pickering, a long-standing advocate for environmental conservation, worked to ensure that the Potomac River waterfront was accessible to the public and not reserved for private interests. She also helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington, DC, and managed the installation of 1,000 resident-donated cherry trees during her tenure as chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission. 

To be eligible for the Pickering Award, nominees, which can include residents, groups, clubs, organizations, or corporate neighbors, must live or 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. 

The Award Committee includes representatives from AlexRenew, the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, and the Pickering family. Each year, the committee awards an individual or organization for their work caring for our environment in active, demonstrable ways. 

Visit the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award page for more information, including eligibility criteria, nominating requirements and the selection process.