SARASOTA COUNTY HERITAGE AWARDS
The Coalition wishes to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the preservation and understanding of Sarasota County’s prehistorical and historical resources. Besides honoring those who have devoted themselves to maintaining the integrity of our remaining architectural, archeological, and historical assets and educating the public to their importance, the Heritage Awards aim to raise the level of public support for governmental and citizen-based efforts to preserve our common past so future generations may learn from it.
SEE ALL THE AWARDEES AND THE STORIES ABOUT THEIR AWARD WORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS (external website)
Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Adaptive Use and Historic Preservation Awards
Architecture: Bay Haven School of Basics Plus (Award Recipient: Todd Sweet, Sweet Sparkman Architecture)
Historic Structure Preservation: Lamolithic House, Siesta Key (Award Recipients: Mark and Lorrie Bogart)
Historic Preservation: The Fredrickson House, Laurel Park, Sarasota (Award Recipients: Paul and Michelle van Deventer)
Adaptive Reuse & Organizational Achievement: Phillippi Estate (Edson Keith) Farmhouse (Award Recipients: Sarasota County Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources; Fred and Grace Whitehouse, Friends of Sarasota County Parks)
Adaptive Use: Lord-Higel House, Venice (Award Recipients: City of Venice; Black Gold Coffee Roasters; Venice Heritage)
Lillian Burns Individual Achievement
Esther Horton in recognition of decades of service, advocacy, and educational programming in the Englewood and Lemon Bay community.
Organizational Achievement
South Poinsettia Park Neighborhood Association
Preservation Builders/Developers & Skilled Trades/Craftsmen
Pat Ball in recognition of his long-standing contribution to Sarasota County through preservation-sensitive building and restoration work.
Hall Darling Design Studio is recognized for its work in the repair and restoration work of the historic elements on the exterior of the Sarasota County Terrace Building.
Historical Research
Sarasota Trivia Game (Award Recipients: Kim Patton Manning and John D. Manning)
Kristine Ziedina in recognition of her rigorous research and documentation that expands understanding of Sarasota County’s built environment and cultural history.
LILLIAN BURNS INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT
Conferred upon an individual who has made profound contributions to the history and preservation movement in Sarasota County. Contributions may include scholarly research and publication, education, museology, history and preservation organizational leadership, and public advocacy for history and preservation. The Awards Committee will be most impressed with nominations that document sustained excellence and high achievement.
PAST AWARDEES
Linda Holland (2025)
Dorothy Korwek (2024)
Dr. Frank Cassell, PhD. (2024)
Don Bayley (2023)
Harry Klinkhamer, Historical Resources Manager, City of Venice (2022)
Betty Dailey Nugent (2020)
Julia Cousins Laning (2019)
Nathalie McCulloch (2019)
Betty Intagliata (2018)
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVANCY
Recognizes outstanding efforts to preserve and document prehistoric sites and/or effective advocacy of archaeological conservation.
PAST AWARDEES
Sherry Svekis (2025)
Marion Almy (2024)
Time Sifters Archaeological Society (2023)
Friends of Little Salt Spring (2020)
Dr. Uzi Baram (2019)
Dr. George Luer (2017)
Dr. Steven Koski (2018)
ORGANIZATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Presented to a Sarasota County historical or preservation organization for outstanding success in historical preservation, historical education, and/or support of historical research. The Awards Committee welcomes nominations of organizations that have successfully completed a project or a series of projects that have had a significant impact on preserving and understanding Sarasota’s history.
PAST AWARDEES
Venice Heritage, Inc. (2024)
Venice Area Historical Society (2023)
The Sarasota County Centennial 2021 Steering Committee (2022)
Historical Society of Sarasota County (2020)
Lemon Bay Historical Society (2019)
Sarasota Architectural Foundation (2018)
Venice Main Street & Venice Heritage, Inc. (2017)
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION
Recognizes outstanding work in preserving, describing, and providing public access to historical collections located within Sarasota County. The award will be given to individuals or organizations that demonstrate the use of best practices in the field of archival management.
PAST AWARDEES
Dorothy Korwek (2025)
Ana McGrath, of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library at New College (2023)
Alexandra Vargas-Minor, Archivist, Ringling College of Art and Design (2022)
Julia Cousins Laning and Dale Laning Archives & Research Center (2020)
Deborah Walk (2018)
Michael Swain (2017)
HISTORIC STRUCTURE PRESERVATION
Recognizes and celebrates the best preservation projects in Sarasota County. Nominated projects must have been completed within the last five years of the submission deadline. Nominations are judged for their success in preservation, rehabilitation, and/or restoration of our architectural heritage in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior standards as well as the impact of the project on the community.
INCLUDES NEW CATEGORY CREATED BY SARASOTA ALLIANCE:
Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Historic Structure Preservation
SUB CATEGORIES:
Adaptive Re-Use
Historic Rehabilitation
PAST AWARDEES
Susan and Jim Davis, an adaptive re-use project in the Burns Court Historic District (2025)
Denise Kowal, restoring and preserving the historic Herald Square Building (2025) -Historic Rehabilitation-
Douglas and Susan Moore, rehabilitation of the Van Wezel Estate on Lido Key (2025) -Historic Rehabilitation-
Ms. Vickie Oldham and Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC)
for preservation of the Leonard Reid House (2024) -Historic Rehabilitation-
Florida Studio Theater for the Sarasota’s Woman’s Club and Gompertz Theater (2024) -Adaptive Re-Use-
Architecture Sarasota, 265 South Orange Ave, Sarasota (2023) -Adaptive Re-Use-
The Eagle House, 2516 Mulberry Terrace, Sarasota (2023) -Historic Rehabilitation-
Cunliff Residence, Brian and Katherine Leaver, 2525 Pleasant Place, Sarasota (2022)
Sarasota Art Museum of the Ringling College of Art and Design (2020)
Howard W. Davis (2018)
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Awarded for outstanding contributions through research and publication to increase knowledge of Sarasota County’s past.
PAST AWARDEES
Dr. Janet Snyder Matthews (2025)
Deborah Walk (2024)
US Modernist Archive, Inc. Durham, NC (2023)
Dr. Renee DiPilato, Director of Libraries and Historical Resources for Sarasota County (2022)
Harold Bubil (2019)
Jeff Lahurd (2018)
Newtown Conservation Historic District (2017)