National Ranger Excellence Award

The National Ranger Excellence Award honors individuals who exemplify the proud tradition of park rangering from a variety of career fields. The 2023 award recipient is Bruce Phillips.

The recipient of the 2022 Harry Yount Award for Excellence in Rangering, Mike Archer, has a wide range of experience, ranger skills and stories to share, yet it is not the heroic acts Mike has performed over the years that makes him stand out, but rather his leadership at all levels of the organization.

Congratulations to Ranger Della Yurcik for her outstanding service to the National Park Service and Grand Canyon National Park! In the tradition of Harry Yount, the National Park Service honors rangers who have the skills to perform a wide scope of ranger duties protecting resources and serving visitors.

Todd Austin has spent most of his career as a canine ranger at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. He is a skilled paramedic, firefighter, boat operator, firearms instructor, and control tactics instructor. His service is being recognized with the 2020 Harry Yount Award.

Few people know the whole 250 miles of the Riverway like Ranger Charles Lundin. the 2019 Harry Yount Award recipient. For more than 20 years, Ranger Charles Lundin has brought his knowledge of the park resources, focus on safety, dedication to the park, and positive attitude to his job as a visitor and resource protection ranger.

Park Ranger Jack J. Hoeflich from Yosemite National Park is the recipient of the 2018 National Harry Yount Award. His incredible intellect, physical fitness, stamina, climbing prowess, and passion for helping others is a perfect fit for the unique challenges of providing assistance to visitors in Yosemite’s rugged landscape.

For over three decades W. Jeff Sullivan has answered the call and worked tirelessly to protect the people and natural resources of our national parks. His legacy will have long lasting impact on the people who protect our national parks, and will allow for their enjoyment by future generations.

Much like Harry Yount, who patrolled Yellowstone National Park in the 1880s and is regarded as the world’s first park ranger, Geoff Walker can do it all. Walker is a skilled law enforcement officer, EMT, first responder, criminal investigator, wild land firefighter, wilderness expert, helicopter crewman, mountain climber, training coordinator, supervisor, mentor, and rescuer. Walker’s arrival on scene is a welcome sight for any situation.

A visit to the Grand Canyon after college and Leslie Reynolds was hooked. Little did she know her love of national parks would take her on an incredible journey of public service and adventures in parks across the country. As the current chief ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore, Reynolds continues to inspire the new generation of park rangers and lead through example.

Vandergraff is a living legend among his peers. In his 25-year career, Vandergraff has hiked 10,000 miles of the Grand Canyon backcountry, spent 3,000 days helping visitors below the canyon's rim, and assisted with more than 2,000 search and rescue operations. A rangers' ranger, Vandergraff has dedicated his life to helping others.