Game and Parks wins 10 awards at annual ACI conference

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission earned 10 awards at the Association for Conservation Information annual conference July 21-24 in Atlantic City, N.J. The awards recognized excellence in outreach, education and communications for the prior year.

ACI is a nonprofit organization of natural resources communicators representing wildlife conservation and parks and natural resource agencies. Its annual awards contest recognizes excellence and promotes craft improvement through peer critiques.

The awards are:

First place

Communications Campaign: Marketing, for Beneath Nebraska Skies, fishing awareness campaign, by Game and Parks communications team, coordinated by Jane Gustafson, and Swanson Russell.

Second place

Audio Program or Podcast, for Panhandle Afield: Bluebirds, by Justin Haag.

Photography: People, for Hunting with My Friends, by Jeff Kurrus.

Photography: Studio/Enhanced, for Milkweed Sunrise, by Justin Haag.

Poster, for Insects of Nebraska, by Donna Schimonitz and Kelly Ekue.

One-time Publication: Other, for Slowpoke Cider, by Mel Severin and Monica Macoubrie, in collaboration with Glacial Till Vineyard.

Third place

One-time Publication: Other, for A Pocket Guide to Nebraska Reptiles, by Monica Macoubrie, Donna Schimonitz and Andrew Faughn.

Photography: Scenic, for Smiley Canyon Sunrise, by Justin Haag.

Photography: Flora and Fauna, for Pronghorns in the Frost, by Justin Haag.

Website, for Nebraskaland Magazine, by Shawna Richter-Ryerson, Kristin Carder, Jenny Wheatley, Mel Severin, and Nebraskaland Magazine contributors.

“Connecting Nebraskans to conservation and outdoor recreation is essential to our mission,” said Christy Firestone, Game and Parks’ communications director. “Our talented and enthusiastic team collaborates and works in creative ways to educate, engage and inform people about natural resources, and ways to get involved in conservation and have fun in the outdoors.”