Name: 2026 Environmental Guardian Award – Environmental Activism

Years Awarded: 2026

Type Awarded: Grant

Details: The 2026 JFETF Environmental Guardian Award goes to Sarah Balon. Ms. Balon is a University of Mary Washington graduate who majored in Environmental Science and has dedicated much of her time to environmental volunteer work, conservation, and community advocacy. Sarah has volunteered with a wide range of environmental organizations, including Friends of the Rappahannock, the Rappahannock Education Farm, the Soil and Water Conservation District, Protect Stafford, Bee City, Waterway Cleanups, and the Rappahannock Group of the Sierra Club (RGSC). As an RGSC intern, she serves as communications chair, running the organization’s Instagram account, and writes articles for RGSC’s quarterly newsletter and the Virginia Chapter Sierran newsletter. She also gave a presentation on how noise pollution affects birds. She is currently performing water quality testing for JFETF, collecting monthly measurements of pH, salinity, total dissolved solids, conductivity, temperature, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. She has spoken at Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meetings, participated in Data Center Lobby Day at the General Assembly, spoken with regional delegates, and gone door-to-door to collect petition signatures. Through her commitment to environmental science, volunteer service, water quality monitoring, public communication, and civic advocacy, Sarah demonstrates the qualities of an Environmental Guardian. We are proud to recognize her work and look forward to seeing what she does next.

Status: Award given Summer, 2026.