Trout Unlimited has awarded its top volunteer honor to Sharon Lance, of Centennial, Colo. TU President and CEO Chris Wood presented her with the award at the organization’s annual meeting in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire this past weekend.
The Ray Mortensen Award for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership is granted annually to a “one in a thousand” individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to local coldwater fisheries conservation efforts.
During her 20-year involvement in TU, Lance has held numerous volunteer leadership positions, including president of the Cutthroat Chapter, located in suburban Denver. She has served as Colorado Trout Unlimited’s treasurer, vice president and president. She has, for the last five years, served as a trustee on TU's board of trustees.
Lance, President of Fortin Financial Services, Inc., and a certified financial planner, was a driving force in creating Colorado Trout Unlimited’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp, a camp that teaches conservation and fly fishing to children ages 14 to 18. She was instrumental in bringing the Trout in the Classroom program to Colorado, an educational curriculum that teaches children about trout and conservation by having students raise trout in their classrooms. Lance also led the Cheesman Canyon Restoration Project along the South Platte River which rebuilt the Gill Trail and added river access trails to make the canyon safer and reduce erosion. Read the full list of 2010 TU Volunteer Awards here.
