John H. Chafee Leadership Awards

Senator John H. Chafee
Senator John H. Chafee

 

Created by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, the John H. Chafee Leadership Award honors the late Senator’s legacy and recognizes individuals who have worked on projects that promote cultural heritage, environmental conservation, economic development, and the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley. Past years’ recipients have celebrated community leaders, preservation heroes, business partners, and environmental advocates whose achievements resulted in the public’s benefit. These heroes have demonstrated the Valley’s long tradition of leadership and inspiration.

2023/2024 Recipients:

  • Bruce Curliss
  • Richard Keene

2022 Recipients:

  • Chuck Arning
  • Stefanie Covino
  • Christian de Rezendes
  • Mary Lee Partington

2021 Recipients:

  • Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02)
  • U.S. Senator Jack Reed (RI)
  • Ross Weaver, Sutton, MA
  • John Marsland, Cumberland, RI
  • Student Award: Painting & Design Technology Students at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (17 sophomores)
Press Release for 2022 Recipients
Press Release for 2021 Recipients

2023/2024 John H. Chafee Heritage Award Winners

Pictured left to right are Devon Kurtz, Bruce Curliss, Kevin Rice, and Eric Breitkreutz. Curliss received the John H. Chafee Leadership Award.
Pictured left to right are Devon Kurtz, Bruce Curliss, Kevin Rice, and Eric Breitkreutz. Curliss received the John H. Chafee Leadership Award.
Pictured left to right are Elizabeth Faricy, Richard Keene, Jeff Harris, and Devon Kurtz. Keene received the John H. Chafee Leadership Award.
Pictured left to right are Elizabeth Faricy, Richard Keene, Jeff Harris, and Devon Kurtz. Keene received the John H. Chafee Leadership Award.

2022 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards

From left to right are Chuck Arning, Mary Lee Partington, Christian de Rezendes, and Stefanie Covino. Also pictured is BHC's Executive Director Devon Kurtz.
2022 John H. Chafee Heritage Award Recipients. From left to right are Chuck Arning, Mary Lee Partington, Christian de Rezendes, and Stefanie Covino. Also pictured is BHC's Executive Director Devon Kurtz.

2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards

Ross Weaver

Blackstone Heritage Corridor presented one of its 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards to Ross Weaver of Sutton, MA. Pictured here from left to right are: Wendy Mead, Sutton Select Board Member; Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Executive Director; Ross Weaver, 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient; Richard T. Moore, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Chair; James Smith, Sutton Town Manager; and David Hall, Sutton Select Board Member. Photo by Ellen D. Kawadler.
Blackstone Heritage Corridor presented one of its 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards to Ross Weaver of Sutton, MA. Pictured here from left to right are: Wendy Mead, Sutton Select Board Member; Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Executive Director; Ross Weaver, 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient; Richard T. Moore, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Chair; James Smith, Sutton Town Manager; and David Hall, Sutton Select Board Member. Photo by Ellen D. Kawadler.

John Marsland

John Marsland, president of the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, received the 2021 John H. Chafee Award on April 22, 2022, at the premiere of " Kittacuck Speaks," a film he co-directed. Pictured here from left to right are Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Executive Director; Richard Moore, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Chair; John Marsland, president of the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone and a 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient; Judy Hadley, BRWC/FOB Board Member; Lee Dillard Adams, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Member.
John Marsland, president of the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, received the 2021 John H. Chafee Award on April 22, 2022, at the premiere of " Kittacuck Speaks," a film he co-directed. Pictured here from left to right are Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Executive Director; Richard Moore, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Chair; John Marsland, president of the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone and a 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient; Judy Hadley, BRWC/FOB Board Member; Lee Dillard Adams, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Member.

Congressman Jim McGovern (MA)

Blackstone Heritage Corridor presented one of its 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards to Congressman Jim McGovern. Pictured here from left to right are: Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) Executive Director; Eric Breitkreutz, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Superintendent; Lee Dillard Adams, BHC Board Director; Donna Williams, BHC Board Director; Harry Whitin, BHC Board Director; Jeannie Hebert, BHC Board Director and Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce President; Congressman Jim McGovern, 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient; and Richard T. Moore, BHC Board Chair. Photo by Ellen D. Kawadler.
Blackstone Heritage Corridor presented one of its 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards to Congressman Jim McGovern. Pictured here from left to right are: Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) Executive Director; Eric Breitkreutz, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Superintendent; Lee Dillard Adams, BHC Board Director; Donna Williams, BHC Board Director; Harry Whitin, BHC Board Director; Jeannie Hebert, BHC Board Director and Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce President; Congressman Jim McGovern, 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient; and Richard T. Moore, BHC Board Chair. Photo by Ellen D. Kawadler.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (RI)

Senator Jack Reed_2022

Painting & Design Technology Students at BVT

At a ceremony held on April 11, 2022, at Blackstone Valley Tech, Blackstone Heritage Corridor presented its 2021John H. Chafee Student Award to 17 sophomore students from the Painting and Design Technology program at Blackstone Valley Tech. Pictured here from left to right (standing): Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Executive Director; Tom Lamont, Painting & Design Technology instructor at Blackstone Valley Tech; Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, Blackstone Valley Tech Superintendent; Richard T. Moore, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Chair; Amelie Botelho (Millbury), Giana Duquette (Milford), Nelle Norris (Milford), Katie Huff (Douglas), Stella Lentini (Milford), Emma Fiore (Grafton), Emma Sanborn (Milford), Jonathon Spiller (Northbridge), Marley Koopman (Northbridge), Madison Moore (Millbury), Hailey Feehan (Northbridge), Logan Feehan (Northbridge), and Alexandra Nunnemacher (Sutton). From left to right (kneeling): Madison Collins (Grafton), Sophie Jacobson (Bellingham), and Riley Austin (Northbridge). Not pictured: Carlie Jensen (Grafton). Photo by Molly Cardoza.
At a ceremony held on April 11, 2022, at Blackstone Valley Tech, Blackstone Heritage Corridor presented its 2021John H. Chafee Student Award to 17 sophomore students from the Painting and Design Technology program at Blackstone Valley Tech. Pictured here from left to right (standing): Devon Kurtz, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Executive Director; Tom Lamont, Painting & Design Technology instructor at Blackstone Valley Tech; Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, Blackstone Valley Tech Superintendent; Richard T. Moore, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Board Chair; Amelie Botelho (Millbury), Giana Duquette (Milford), Nelle Norris (Milford), Katie Huff (Douglas), Stella Lentini (Milford), Emma Fiore (Grafton), Emma Sanborn (Milford), Jonathon Spiller (Northbridge), Marley Koopman (Northbridge), Madison Moore (Millbury), Hailey Feehan (Northbridge), Logan Feehan (Northbridge), and Alexandra Nunnemacher (Sutton). From left to right (kneeling): Madison Collins (Grafton), Sophie Jacobson (Bellingham), and Riley Austin (Northbridge). Not pictured: Carlie Jensen (Grafton). Photo by Molly Cardoza.

John H. Chafee Heritage Award History

Year Name Affilliation
1999 John H. Chafee given posthumously at the February 2000 annual meeting to the late Senator's family
2000 Margaret Carroll Millville
2000 Nicholas D'Amico student from Uxbridge honored for his Eagle Scout project at River Bend
2000 Ruth B. Tetreault & Henry J. Tetreault Lincoln, RI - decades of work protecting river and open space
2000 Matthew Soucy Woonsocket High School River Club
2000 Nicholas Jzyk RI student - storm drain stenciling
2001 Ralph (Bud) Gurney Waters Farm
2001 Rebecca Paige student, Woonsocket High School
2001 Meaghan Pierannunzi student, Woonsocket High School
2001 8th-grade class Assumption School, Millbury JoAnne Holahan was the teacher
2001 Janice & Michael Ferry
2002 Deborah D. Cary Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center
2002 Gary Vaillancourt Founder & Chairman of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee (who operates Vaillancourt Folk Art)
2002 Richard Gregory President of Old Slater Mill Association
2002 Michael Quirk Student - Nipmuc Regional High School (restored Chestnut Hill Meeting House Cemetery)
2002 Jennifer Cote Student - president of Woonsocket High School's River Club
2003 Ken Crater Grafton - 468 acres protected at 4 sites - plus preserving site of Native American Praying Village; creation of Brigham Hill Community Farm as part of Community Harvest Project
2003 Peg Ferraro Grafton - 468 acres protected at 4 sites - plus preserving site of Native American Praying Village;  creation of Brigham Hill Community Farm as part of Community Harvest Project
2003 Eugene Peloquin from North Smithfield. Credited with being a proponent of the Museum of Work & Culture - fundraising - the "Nun Project" classroom addition
2003 Cumberland High School 5th Grade Class 2002-2003 "Heroes of History" project
2003 Tiffany Shaw student - Millville
2004 Sutton 300 Committee Co-chairmen Gary Vaillancourt and David Lavallee + steering committee of 15
2004 Sarah Buchanan Burrillville, RI - for her volunteer support to many Blackstone Valley organizations
2004 Frank Matta Cumberland, RI - for efforts to improve the Blackstone River
2005 Daniel & Elaine Malloy Hopedale - efforts to preserve and share the history of Hopedale
2005 Alexander Thompson Student at Northbridge High School for organized cleanups of the Mumford River and water quality monitoring
2005 Thomas Scanlon Lincoln, RI - historic preservation and promotion work
2005 Nora Schachte Student - Woonsocket, RI - president of River Club
2005 Partnership Award: Massachusetts Highway Dept for bikeway project
2005 Community Stewardship Award: Orville R. Harrold posthumously - former president of Providence and Worcester Railroad
2006 Jim & Maggie Plasse Blackstone - BRWA
2006 Matthew Chamberlin Student - Blackstone Millville Regional High School. Civically engaged student leader
2007 Nicole Hauber Student - Millbury High School - president of Environmental Council
2007 NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley
2007 Marilyn Baker & Northbridge Recycling Committee
2007 Star Award John Spillane Worcester - posthumously
2007 Star Award Robert Largess Sutton - rode his stagecoach from E. Providence to Worcester to raise awareness of the 3rd annual Footsteps In History program
2007 Star Award Gene Bernat Upton - Gene and his company Cover Technologies - his company turned the Fisherville Mill Complex from brownfield into an opportunity
2007 Star Award Shirley & Leon Mosczynski Douglas - first chairman of Douglas Conservation Commission (1970). Champion of land protection. With his wife they helped prevent a landfill from being situated near Douglas State Forest
2008 Brian H Wood Boy Scout - Sutton (junior at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury)- Eagle Scout - cleanups, storm drain stenciling, erosion control at Broad Meadow Brook, nesting boxes at West Hill Dam
2008 William Wallace Worcester Historical Museum
2008 Sarah Marsland student award
2009 Star Award Thomas Mattson author and reporter from Blackstone Valley Tribune
2009 Star Award Leslie Reichert owner of Back Door Vacuum Shop in North Uxbridge - for improving the environment - author of the Joy of Green Cleaning
2015 Congressman David Cicilline
2015 Senator Jack Reed
2016 Edward M. Augustus Jr. Worcester City Manager
2021 Congressman Jim McGovern
2021 Senator Jack Reed
2021 Ross Weaver Cemetery Conservation in Sutton
2021 John Marsland Preservation of River for 30+ years; BRWC/FOB
2021 Painting & Design Technology Class at Blackstone Valley Tech 17 Sophomores; Instructor Tom Lamont

2022                 Chuck Arning                                                                          Retired National Park Service Ranger

2022                 Stefanie Covino                                                                      Blackstone Watershed Collaborative

2022                 Christian de Rezendes                                                           Filmmaker - "Slatersville: America's First Mill Village"

2022                 Mary Lee Partington                                                               Singer/Songwriter

2023/2024     Bruce Curliss - Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone

2023/2024     Richard Keene - North Smithfield Heritage Association