Mechanicsville, VA, August 12, 2019. Daphne Jamison, a recognized leader in conservation for over 35 years, was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD’s) Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame at a luncheon in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on Aug. 5th during the NACD Southeast Region Meeting. The Hall of Fame honors distinguished conservationists whose careers have resulted in the wise use of our nations precious natural resources upon which we all depend. Jamison was nominated for the honor by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) for her significant contribution to soil and water conservation.
VASWCD President Chip Jones stated that “Someone who practices what he or she preaches is someone that is well-suited to become a great leader, and Daphne is an example of someone who works hard in and out of the workplace, not for fame and recognition but because she wants to and that’s who she is.”
A graduate of Radford College, Daphne spent 33 years teaching science in Roanoke County Public Schools. However, retirement hasn’t slowed down Daphne in the slightest. Daphne has served the Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District (BRSWCD) for three decades and has been re-elected repeatedly as a Director. She has worked extensively with the VASWCD and served as President in 2001 and 2002.
Daphne has donated countless hours of energy and expertise towards the promotion of soil and water conservation work on a watershed basis, in addition to securing funds for non-point source pollution programs across Virginia. She was appointed by Governor Tim Kaine to serve on the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board and has worked closely with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). In 2013, she received the Bobby Wilkinson Award, the highest honor a SWCD Director can be awarded. Even in her downtime, Daphne has been an active member in her community, volunteering to monitor water quality for over 30 years alongside Ferrum College and the Smith Mountain Lake Association.
Executive Director Kendall Tyree commented that “Daphne is deserving of more than just this award, because her dedication and enthusiasm for conservation is contagious to everyone she encounters. Her contributions to the advancement of conservation have been impactful across the Commonwealth. We are grateful for her dedication and commitment and are proud to have nominated her for this recognition.”
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The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) is the non-profit organization that represents Virginia’s 47 conservation districts and about 680 men and women who serve on their staffs and governing boards. For more than 70 years, conservation districts have worked with cooperating land users and local jurisdictions to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about VASWCD, visit: www.vaswcd.org.