Keep Texas Beautiful Announces 2025 Beautify Texas Award Winners

Environmentalist Diane Wilson Awarded Stan Weik Leadership Award

Austin, Texas – Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is proud to announce the 2025 Beautify Texas Awards winners, recognizing individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing their communities and protecting Texas' environment. These prestigious awards celebrate outstanding volunteers, professionals, businesses, and sustainable projects and programs across the state.

The Beautify Texas Awards are divided into two main categories: Individual Awards and Organization Awards. This year’s recipients represent a diverse group of changemakers making a significant impact on Texas communities through leadership, education, conservation, and environmental stewardship.

Individual Award Winners:

• Stan Weik Leadership Award: Diane Wilson, San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper
• OP Schnable Volunteer of the Year Award: Michel Hambrick, Saint Arbors Community Garden
• Ruthe Jackson Youth Volunteer of the Year Award: Lilly Adams, Whitehouse High School FFA
• Sadie Ray Graff Educator of the Year Award: Carolyn Torres, Snyder ISD

Organization Award Winners:

• Ebby Halliday & Maurice Acers Business/Industry of the Year Award: IREP Junk Removal
• Outstanding Program of the Year Award: Give a Hoot, Donate Your Loot, Office of Sustainability, Rice University
• Outstanding Project of the Year Award: Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership
• Sadie Ray Graff Public Education & Outreach Program of the Year Award: Austin Youth River Watch

Honoring Environmental Leadership Across Texas

This year’s winners have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to protecting Texas’ natural resources and fostering sustainable communities. From leading groundbreaking environmental cleanups and community sustainability initiatives to educating and inspiring the next generation of conservationists, these awardees embody the mission of Keep Texas Beautiful.

“The Beautify Texas Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to preserve the beauty and health of our state,” said Keep Texas Beautiful Executive Director, Suzanne Kho. “We are proud to recognize their hard work and commitment to making Texas a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful place for all.”

Awards Ceremony at the 2025 KTB Conference

The winners will be honored at an awards reception during the 2025 Keep Texas Beautiful Conference, taking place on May 6 in Austin, Texas. The conference brings together environmental leaders, community members, and advocates from across the state to collaborate and share best practices for environmental stewardship.

For more information about the Beautify Texas Awards and Keep Texas Beautiful, visit www.ktb.org.

About Keep Texas Beautiful

Keep Texas Beautiful is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and empowering Texans to keep their communities clean and beautiful. Through education, partnerships, and volunteer programs, KTB supports efforts to improve Texas’ environment and quality of life.

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About Keep Texas Beautiful

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making Texas the best place to live, work, and play! Our mission is to inspire and empower Texans to make their communities clean and beautiful. We provide resources for community improvement projects, recycling, clean-ups, and youth engagement efforts across the state. Through the Keep Texas Recycling program, we provide technical assistance, education, and market access to increase recycling in rural and underserved communities.

Everything we do focuses on mobilizing volunteers to take action by providing them with tools, resources, and training. Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful’s work is driven by its network of affiliate members, communities, volunteers, and supporters that span the state and reach 17 million Texans annually.

For more information and to find your closest affiliate, visit www.ktb.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.