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The North Carolina Coastal Federation recognized Terri Kirby-Hathaway, the Town of Duck and Barbara and Andy DelVillar for Outstanding Volunteer Service to Our Coast at its 2021 Pelican Awards on Aug. 7 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City.

The federation’s annual awards event recognizes the exceptional people, community associations, businesses and government agencies that have made standout contributions to protecting and restoring the North Carolina coastal environment over the past year.

“The Pelican Awards were created to celebrate very special people and organizations who work to protect and restore our coast,” said Todd Miller, federation executive director. “The recipients this year come from different walks of life, but still work tirelessly to keep our coast healthy and beautiful.”

Terri Kirby-Hathaway received the award for “Longtime Excellence in North Carolina Marine Education.” Kirby-Hathaway “leaves a legacy in the marine science community. Her knowledge and passion of marine science is as vast and deep as the ocean,” stated a press release from the NC Coastal Federation. “She dedicated her 35-year career to marine science education, sharing her expertise of ocean sciences and aquatic environments with educators and audiences statewide. Terri was active in many state, regional and national professional organizations, and even helped to establish some of them.”

Kirby-Hathaway recently retired from North Carolina Sea Grant after a 17-year career. Before that, she was an educator at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

The Town of Duck received an award for “Dedicated Community Leadership and Collaboration.” Recognizing the need for shell recycling in the community, the Town of Duck created the first municipally-organized oyster shell recycling program in partnership with the federation.

“Town staff members Sandy Cross, Alyson Flynn and Christian Legner led the effort, understanding the value and need for collecting oyster shells and recycling them for use in coastal habitat and restoration projects,” stated the release. “The town formed a recycling program that is now setting an example for other municipalities. Town employees pick up discarded shell from five local restaurants and haul it to drop off points, often driving 20 miles in their personal vehicles, adding several hours to their work day.”

Barbara and Andy DelVillar, of Nags Head, received an award for “Outstanding Volunteer Service to Our Coast.” The DelVillars “are compassionate people who care deeply about the coast and community and always seek out opportunities to support both in every way they can,” stated the release. “Together they have helped with many volunteer-based federation events in the northeast coast. They support the annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast, as well as help promote the federation at community events.

“Barbara and Andy go above and beyond and rally others to join them to protect our coast by conducting cleanups they organize on their own,” the release continued. “These are just a few of the many volunteer contributions made by this amazing duo.”

To learn more, about the North Carolina Coastal Federation, visit nccoast.org or call 252-393-8185.

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