News Release

Acadia National Park celebrates exceptional service at annual ceremony

Superintendent Kevin Schneider (left) and Deputy Superintendent Michael Madell (right) present Michelle Bierman with the George B. Dorr Permanent Employee of the Year Award

News Release Date: September 22, 2020

Contact: Christie Anastasia, 207 288-8806

BAR HARBOR, MAINE – Several awards were presented in recognition for exceptional service at the annual Acadia National Park Awards Ceremony hosted virtually on Tuesday September 22.

“We want to publicly recognize those who exhibited innovation, resilience, and positive attitudes,” said Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “We host this award ceremony to celebrate everyone who helped make this park welcoming to all people during this exceptional season.” 

The following recognitions were delivered: 

• 2020 George Dorr Award presented to Michelle Bierman, Fee Program Manager, for her leadership though many unanticipated budgetary, staffing and operational challenges. Michelle’s professionalism and collaborative approach for her entire team helped navigate a constantly challenging year. 

• 2020 “Ace” Savage Award for Excellence presented to Emma Remillard, Public Safety Dispatcher, for her commitment and diligence in placing information coordination as a high priority. All of this work being done in her first National Park Service job and her first time serving in dispatch.  

• 2020 Safety Award - Kate Petrie; Education Coordinator and Supervisory Park Ranger, for always making safety the highest priority, especially during a pandemic. Kate worked tirelessly to ensure all staff on her team had a safe space to work with people visiting the park. Information stations, ranger programs, and education programs were all dramatically restructured to keep visitors and staff safe while enjoying the outdoors.  

• 2020 Champlain Award presented to Ray and Mary Ann Schaefer as well as Randy Ewin; Volunteers-In-Parks. Ray and Mary Ann have volunteered at Acadia for three summers to help people receive service and assistance while visiting Acadia. In 2020, Ray and Mary Ann contributed over 800 hours of high-quality service in the midst of a pandemic.  They are reliable, independent, and share their expertise with joy. Randy Ewin is a co-winner of the 2020 Champlain Award for his work helping wherever he is needed. Randy helps coordinate other volunteers for special events, helps support other volunteers working on the Jordan Pond bogwalk project, and helps wherever we need volunteers to keep projects moving forward.  

• 2020 Acadia Partner Award presented to Billy Helprin, Executive Director, Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary for his boundless energy and in-depth knowledge both in and outside of Acadia. Billy has partnered with Acadia on outdoor classroom development, fish migration programs, and loon protection and education in the mutual goals of conservation and stewardship. 

• 2020 Acadia Team Award presented to the entire Acadia custodial staff who maintained the cleanliness and disinfection of visitor facilities under extraordinary circumstances in public health efforts against COVID-19. This staff, every single person, worked tirelessly and committed during unprecedented times. 

• 2020 Superintendent Special Recognition presented to Aaron Zavesky, Park Ranger,forresilience and professionalism in the face of a very challenging year. Aaron s’ role in two specific instances contributed toward protecting park visitor’s lives. One incident involved a father of two children pulling a bicycle trailer and losing consciousness. After emergency assistance on the carriage road, the father began breathing on his own. In the second incident, Aaron intervened on a despondent male in emotional distress and offered support which was accepted. 

While normally conducted in person, this year the Acadia Award Ceremony was hosted in a completely new way to protect public health. Days before the actual ceremony, awards were presented, one at a time in different locations and videoed. On the day of the award ceremony on Tuesday September 22, the video footage captured over a series of days was shared at a virtual awards ceremony. In this manner, all employees could recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of award recipients. Acadia annual awards are generated through a parkwide nomination process coordinated by a committee consisting of representatives of all park teams.