Congratulations to our 2025 Award Winners

On June 19, 2025, Aquarion Water Company celebrated the five winners of New Hampshire's 2025 Aquarion Environmental Champion Awards during a ceremony at the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Discovery Center. Annually, the Environmental Champion Awards recognize organizations and individuals in the business, non-profit, adult, and student categories.

Green Wave Electric Vehicles was founded in 2023 and rapidly established itself as a leading force for sustainable transportation and climate action on the New Hampshire Seacoast. Green Wave is the state’s first dedicated electric vehicle (EV) dealership, driven by a mission to accelerate the decarbonization of the economy by providing accessible, used EV options to individuals and businesses throughout the region.

Within its community, Green Wave is seen as more than a business. It is a purpose-driven organization committed to reducing the carbon footprint of transportation and fostering a cleaner, healthier environment for all. Beyond its sales initiatives, Green Wave's staff engages the community through partnerships, education, and impactful sustainability initiatives. The company plants 100 trees for every vehicle sold, contributing tens of thousands of trees to combat climate change. It also supports local organizations, such as the Southeast Land Trust, and hosts educational events at universities and community spaces, empowering people to adopt clean energy alternatives.

Additionally, Green Wave’s community efforts focus on equity and inclusion, with plans to expand EV charging infrastructure at minority- and veteran-owned businesses, helping to remove barriers to clean transportation. By combining innovation, education, and social responsibility, Green Wave Electric Vehicles exemplifies how businesses can assume leadership roles in climate solutions. The company’s dedication to providing fossil-fuel-free transportation options and fostering community engagement makes it a true environmental champion in New Hampshire’s transition to a sustainable future.

Founded in 1898, the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) is New Hampshire’s oldest environmental organization, dedicated to preserving and enhancing the environmental integrity of the Lake Sunapee Region. LSPA’s mission is rooted in science, education, and community collaboration, serving as a vital guardian of the lakes, watersheds, and surrounding landscapes that exemplify New Hampshire's beauty.

LSPA’s impact is wide-ranging and deeply rooted in conservation. Central to its work is the Watershed Management Plan, launched in 2020, which aims to reduce phosphorus pollution by 7.5% over ten years through targeted projects addressing erosion, stormwater runoff, and shoreline restoration. The organization’s efforts to prevent aquatic invasive species via the Lake Host and Invasive Watch Programs have kept Lake Sunapee free of invasive threats, safeguarding its pristine waters for future generations.

In addition to its conservation and education efforts, it engages learners of all ages through free, hands-on programs, workshops for professionals, and community events. These programs empower residents and visitors alike with knowledge and tools to protect their local environment and foster a strong culture of stewardship. LSPA also partners with regional researchers and utilizes innovative technologies, such as satellite remote sensing, to advance water quality science.

What truly sets LSPA apart is its century-long commitment to blending rigorous science with broad community engagement. Through every watershed project, educational workshop, and volunteer effort, LSPA continues to champion the health and beauty of the Lake Sunapee Region.

Hampton native, Brianna Hagan, embodies the meaning of “Environmental Champion” through her dedication, resilience, and deep-seated passion for ecological conservation, coastal resilience, and community education.

As Conservation Coordinator for the Town of Hampton, she regularly leads community education and outreach initiatives through quarterly newsletters, the town’s website, special events, panel discussions, and more. For example, this past fall, she organized the Flood Ready Neighborhood Project – a program designed to educate at-risk neighborhoods on how to prepare for coastal and stormwater flooding and erosion. Thanks to the project and a $28,400 Coastal Resilience grant, Brianna helped the Hampton Beach community become winter-ready with emergency preparedness packages, community network initiatives, and infrastructure improvements. Ms. Hagan also regularly coordinates with NH Sea Grant to solicit volunteers to consistently replant Plaice Cove and Sun Valley dunes, which play a critical role in protecting the nearby neighborhoods from flooding.

In addition to overseeing the local community garden, she has also supported the conservation of approximately 83 acres of land in Hampton, resulting in 140 contiguous acres of conserved land within the town. Brianna also coordinated numerous events as part of Earth Month 2025, including a film screening, clothing swap, dune planting, beach cleanups, Styrofoam recycling collection, Town Forest cleanup, a star-gazing event, garden planning and seed-starting workshops, and a Hampton Climate Symposium.

Thanks to Brianna’s tireless efforts toward a better environmental future, she has inspired others to make the Hampton community more connected, resilient, and sustainable.

Michaelena Willis is a senior at Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire, and is widely regarded by her peers and educators as a rising environmental leader whose passion for sustainability and civic engagement is already creating meaningful change in her community.

Motivated, thoughtful, and action-oriented, Michaelena has taken the lead in educating peers about environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. She is a key member of her school’s Environmental Club, where she leads initiatives focused on waste reduction, holds clean-up events, and raises awareness about climate issues.

Michaelena also represents youth perspectives as part of the Kingston Conservation Commission’s outreach efforts, where she helps shape programming that encourages community involvement in local conservation. Michaelena demonstrates a strong ability to connect science with advocacy. For example, she organized a student forum on climate resilience and serves as a mentor for younger students interested in environmental careers.

In collaboration with local nonprofits, Michaelena has helped develop hands-on activities that highlight the importance of wetlands and biodiversity in the region. Her efforts culminated in the planning of the 2025 Youth Sustainability Symposium, which brought together students and community leaders from across southeastern New Hampshire for a day of education and climate action. Whether presenting at town events or volunteering at nature centers, Michaelena consistently uses her voice to inspire action. She plans to pursue Environmental Studies and Public Policy to continue her mission of combining education, advocacy, and youth leadership to build a healthier planet.