About the Carol Mortensen Award
Applications for 2024 are now closed. The next nomination period will be in 2026.
Background
This award honors the memory of Carol Mortensen, who represented the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe on the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council (MISAC). Carol worked tirelessly to promote awareness of, and education on invasive species and authored books on noxious weeds and invasive species. Working as an individual or in collaboration with others, she was always passionate about proactively addressing issues related to invasive species. Her contributions and achievements helped to protect Minnesota’s natural resources.
The Carol Mortensen Invasive Species Management Awards are awarded to a person or entity who has made significant contributions to the prevention, management, and increased awareness of invasive species in the state of Minnesota. This award is intended to publicly recognize an award recipient in honor of Carol’s spirit and leadership.
Purpose
The Carol Mortensen Invasive Species Management Award shall be presented biennially by the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council to a person or entity which has made significant contributions to the prevention, management, and increased awareness of invasive species in the state of Minnesota. This award is intended to publicly recognize an award recipient in honor of Carol’s spirit and leadership.
Eligibility
Projects or efforts should have made sustained, significant contributions to invasive species management in Minnesota. Individuals, organizations, businesses, schools, media, municipalities or government agencies may apply or be nominated. Please view the nomination form for the Individual Awards and/or Team Project Awards.
Criteria
This award is given to a recipient who has demonstrated outstanding achievement through their professional conduct or community service, or leadership, or contributions to address invasive species issues (locally, multi-county or statewide). The nominee’s accomplishments or contributions to invasive species efforts in Minnesota shall be evaluated based on one or more of the following:
Improving cooperation and coordination among invasive species partners;
Raising awareness of invasive species issues including innovative educational approaches; and
Demonstrated significant contributions or achievement to prevention, management or control of invasive species.
Selection
The award recipient shall be selected from those nominated by the due date by a MISAC Awards Committee. Note: If nominee is not selected for the award the first time nominated, their nomination will be kept active for the next award cycle for further consideration. The nominator can update the nomination package for the next award cycle, though updating is not required. The intent is to provide the option to add further achievements of the nominee in the interim.
Timetable
Awardee selection will be completed by the MISAC Award Committee using the pool of nominees submitted by July 1st of even-numbered years. Nominations received the preceding award cycle will be included in this pool. Awards will be presented at the biennial MISAC sponsored invasive species conference, typically the fall of even-numbered years.
Award
The award shall be a framed photograph with the inscription:
The Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council
Carol Mortenson Invasive Species Management Award
For ___________ Achievement
Presented to
_________________
202X