The Mountain Star Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose contributions have been significant in helping Save Mount Diablo achieve its mission “to forever preserve the remaining natural lands on and around Mount Diablo, and to connect Mount Diablo to the rest of the Diablo Range.”
Criteria for nomination include efforts that support the preservation of Mount Diablo and the Diablo Range while enhancing the quality of life in the surrounding communities.
These include, but are not limited to, leadership, restoration, stewardship, education, legislative, research, and interpretive activities.
This Year’s Winners
Joan Hamilton 2025
Joan Hamilton has been supporting Save Mount Diablo and other local environmental organizations’ work with her videos and audible guides for more than a decade.
Joan is a talented writer, producer, narrator, and editor. She spends countless hours in the field collecting information and using to create guides and videos.
Her hard work and passion for conservation have helped us make the case for a major capital campaign and inspired conservationists throughout the Mount Diablo region.
Joan Hamilton (center) receives Mountain Star Award. Photo by Mary Nagle
Protect San Benito 2025
For more than a decade, Protect San Benito has been the most important grassroots activist conservation organization in San Benito County (and sometimes Monterey).
San Benito County is the biggest and one of the most important parts of the Diablo Range and has been one of the most threatened.
In November 2024, with our support, Protect San Benito succeeded in passing Measure A, a county-wide initiative they qualified called “Empower Voters to Make Land Use Decisions,” despite massive deceptive opposition by developers.
Protect San Benito receives Mountain Star Award. Photo by Mary Nagle
Learn more about our 2025 Mountain Star Award winners.
Past Winners
Concord Councilmembers: Laura Hoffmeister, Laura Nakamura, and Carlyn Obringer 2024
Burt Bassler 2022
Robert Doyle 2021 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Malcolm Sproul 2020 (Mountain Saver Award)
Ron Brown 2015 (Mountain Saver Award)
Dave and Dana Dornsife 2013 (Mountain Star Cornerstone Award)
Contra Costa Battalion, Cal Fire 2013 (Mountain Star Public Service Award)
The City of Concord 2012 (Mountain Star Alliance Award)
Dave Sargent 2012 (Mountain Star Stewardship Award)
David Loeb 2011 (Mountain Star Media Award)
Sally Scholl 2011 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Phil O’Loane 2011 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Doug Burr 2011 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Doug Bell 2011 (Mary Bowerman Award for Science and Discovery)
Kathy Griffin 2010 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
David Gowen 2010 (Mary Bowerman Award for Science and Discovery)
Michael Park 2010 (Mary Bowerman Award for Science and Discovery)
Bob Marx 2009 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Weston Cook 2009 (Mountain Star Landowner Award)
Harry Silcocks and the East Bay Trail Dogs 2008 (Mountain Star Trail Blazer Award)
Dorothy Wright 2008 (Mountain Star Landowner Award)
Jeanne Thomas 2008 (Mountain Star Cornerstone Award)
Diablo Magazine 2007 (Mountain Star Media Award)
John Kopchik and Contra Costa County 2007 (Mountain Star Public Service Award)
Joseph, Karen, Father Richard, and Jim Mangini 2007 (Mountain Star Landowner Award)
The Mangini Family: Barbara Howard, Laverne M’Guiness, Sarah and David Shaeffer, and
Pamela Young 2006 (Mountain Star Landowner Award)
California Coastal Conservancy 2006 (Mountain Star Alliance Award)
Beverly Lane 2005 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Burt Bogardus and Rich McDrew, MDIA Trash Removal Project 2005 (Mountain Star Restoration Award)
Robert Duchi 2004 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Stephen Joseph 2004 (Mountain Star Interpretive Award)
Robert and Shirley Nootbaar 2003 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
AT&T 2003 (Mountain Star Restoration Award)
Bob Doyle 2002 (Mountain Saver Award)
Roger Epperson 2002 (Mountain Star Stewardship Award)
California Department of Parks and Recreation 2001 (Mountain Star Alliance Award)
Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council 2001 (Mountain Star Alliance Award)
East Bay Regional Park District 2001 (Mountain Star Alliance Award)
Greenbelt Alliance 2001 (Mountain Star Alliance Award)
Contra Costa Times 2001 (Mountain Star Media Award)
Gary Bogue 2001 (Mountain Star Media Award)
Seth Adams 2001 (Mountain Saver Award)
The Ginochio Family 2001 (Mountain Star Stewardship Award)
The Thomas Family 2001 (Mountain Star Stewardship Award)
George Cardinet 2001 (Mountain Star Trail Blazer Award)
Don de Fremery 2001 (Mountain Star Trail Blazer Award)
Susan Watson 2001 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Manfred Lindner 2001 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Joann Hanna 2001 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Retired Senator John Nejedly 2001 (Mountain Star Legislative Award)
Retired Senator Daniel Boatwright 2001 (Mountain Star Legislative Award)
Senator Tom Torlakson 2001 (Mountain Star Legislative Award)
Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla 2001 (Mountain Star Legislative Award)
Supervisor Donna Gerber 2001 (Mountain Star Legislative Award)
Judy Adler 2001 (Mountain Star Interpretive Award)
Mount Diablo Interpretive Association 2001 (Mountain Star Interpretive Award)
Ken Behring 2001 (Mountain Star Cornerstone Award)
Charles Gresham 2001 (Mountain Star Cornerstone Award)
City of Walnut Creek 2001 (Mountain Star Cornerstone Award)
Jim Cutler 2001 (Mountain Star Public Service Award)
Hulet Hornbeck 2001 (Mountain Star Public Service Award)
Warren Westrup 2001 (Mountain Star Public Service Award)
Ralph Kraetsch 2001 (Mountain Star Restoration Award)
Gary Beeman 2001 (Mountain Star Restoration Award)
Steve Slavin 2001 (Mountain Star Restoration Award)
Charli Danielsen 2001 (Mountain Star Restoration Award)
Arthur Bonwell 1999 (Mountain Star Leadership Award)
Founders
Arthur Bonwell and Dr. Mary Bowerman
Barbara Benedict, Robert Canning, Robert Doyle,
Edward Earl, Florence Klinger, Peg Kovar, Mary Lou Laubscher,
Donald Merchant, Connie Rehr, Jean Richmond, William Sattler, Genevieve Sattler
Honorary Founders
Jane Helrich, Bill House, Jean Laird, Jane Stimpson, Mina Lou Taylor, Betty Zilen
Previous Award Subcategories
Mountain Star Leadership Awards: Recognizes individuals who have made difficult and visionary contributions.
Mary Bowerman Awards for Science and Discovery: Recognizes individuals who have conducted ground breaking research or made important discoveries.
Mountain Star Landowner Awards: Recognizes landowners who demonstrate great generosity in preserving their land.
Mountain Saver Awards: Recognizes overwhelming or lifetime achievement benefiting Mount Diablo.
Mountain Star Stewardship Awards: Recognizes significant contributions to the mountain’s ongoing ecological health.
Mountain Star Trail Blazer Awards: Recognizes significant contributions to public recreation and enjoyment of the mountain.
Mountain Star Media Awards: Recognizes significant media contributions to public awareness of Save Mount Diablo and of the mountain.
Mountain Star Alliance Awards: Recognizes agencies and organizations which make continuing contributions to land preservation in concert with Save Mount Diablo.
Mountain Star Legislative Awards: Recognizes significant contributions to the mountain by our elected representatives.
Mountain Star Interpretive Awards: Recognizes significant contributions to public education.
Mountain Star Cornerstone Awards: Recognizes large and precedent-setting contributions.
Mountain Star Public Service Awards: Recognizes significant contributions to land preservation by government employees.
Mountain Star Restoration Awards: Recognizes significant and unusual improvements in resource protection and enhancement at Mount Diablo.
