Learn More About the FAWQC Leadership Awards

In 2011, the Florida Association for Water Quality Control founded two leadership awards to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the management of our water resources: the Sam Zamani “Unsung Hero Award” and the Wade Hopping “Leadership Award”.

The Unsung Hero Award recognizes an outstanding professional who is directly engaged in a career focusing on water resources and is dedicated to managing, improving and protecting the quality of Florida’s waters. The Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding professional who oversees policies and/or personnel in the area of water resources and is dedicated to managing, improving and protecting the quality of Florida’s waters.

The 2024 Unsung Hero Award was presented to Scott Deitche

The 2024 Leadership Award was presented to Jim Clark (Awarded posthumously)

Please consider nominations to help FAWQC recognize the contributions of your colleagues. Award winners will be selected from the pool of nominations by the FAWQC Board and recognized at the Annual Conference.  Here is the link to review the award criteria and to nominate someone using our online form:  FAWQC Award Nomination Form

Past Award Winners:

Wade Hopping Leadership Award

2011 – Roger Sims

2012 – Nadeem Fuleihan

2013 – Drew Bartlett

2014 – John Garlanger

2015 – Richard Budell

2016 – David Jellerson

2017 – Frank Matthews

2018 – Janet Dougherty

2019 – Rob Kincart

2021 – Mohamad Al-hawaree

2022 – Brian Armstrong

2023 – Shawn Hamilton

2024 – Jim Clark

Sam Zamani Unsung Hero Award

2011 – Sari Deitche

2012 – Sam Stone

2013 – Jon Hull

2014 – Holly Greening

2015 – Fred Crabill

2016 – Mike Petrovich

2017 – Craig Kovach

2018 – Santino Provenzano

2019 – Ryan Tickles

2021 – Shannon Gonzalez

2022 – Ilia Balcom

2023 – Michael Edgar

2024 – Scott Deitche