The Alabama Master Gardeners Awards Program has developed a number of awards to recognize exceptional volunteer service in support of the Master Gardener goals. The SMG recipients of these state award for 2020  are:

Shoals Master Gardeners Nominee for the Mary Lou McNabb Award—Cynthia Kershaw 

Shoals Master Gardeners Nominee for the Jean Lee Lifetime Hours—Kaye Hillis 10,375.35 Hours 

Shoals Master Gardeners Nominee for the State Top Hours of the Year Award—Cynthia Kershaw 469.96 Hours 

Shoals Master Gardeners Lifetime Hours Award—Michael Thomason 4,232.13 Hours 

Shoals Master Gardeners Most CEU’s Award—Kathryn MacNeill 175  

Shoals Master Gardeners Most Miles Driven Award—Lisa Maples 1,615 Miles 

Shoals Master Gardener Rookie of the Year—Kayla Nelson 119 Hours 

Friend of Shoals Master Gardeners—Bobby Russell 

Shoals Master Gardeners Project of the Year—The Miracle Worker Stage at the Helen Keller Birthplace, Coordinated by Lisa Maples

Shoals Master Gardener President’s Award—John Baker 

Shoals Master Gardener of the Year—Cynthia Kershaw 

Shoals Master Gardeners—2020 Reach for the Stars: 

Reach the Stars is a volunteer service recognition program approved by the State Master Gardeners Board of Directors in February 1999, based on the Reach for the Stars Program presently in effect in Baldwin County.  The purpose of this recognition is twofold:  (1) To recognize Master Gardeners who have assisted Extension in educating and improving their communities.  (2) To encourage Master Gardeners to keep records and report volunteer hours as requested by Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Recorded hours are utilized in justifying the resources expended by ACES to educate and train Master Gardeners. The 2020 recipients are:

Silver Pin with Ruby Gemstone ( 4000-5, 999 Hours) 

—Preston Hillis 4012.6 Hours 

—Michael Thomason 4232.13 Hours ]

Gold Badge (1000 Hours) 

—Sheila Linsday 1005.75 Hours 

—Donnie Byrd 1004