About the Award

Christi Veleta was one of the City of Jacksonville’s most devoted employees for over 30 years. During her tenure she displayed the highest levels of professionalism in her work with the Environmental Protection Board. A common thread throughout her career was a passionate focus on a better quality of life for all the residents of Duval County through environmental education, awareness, and action. She provided unparalleled community service and continuously displayed outstanding initiative. 

The Environmental Protection Board established the Christi P. Veleta Environmental Award in recognition of her more than two decades of meritorious service to the people of Duval County, commitment to environmental issues and her devoted protection and preservation of our natural resources. The award recognizes an individual who has exhibited, over a long-term, environmental stewardship, displayed superior environmental initiative, and consistently promotes environmental education and outreach.

Past Winners include:

2010 - Christi P. Veleta
 2011 - Mark Middlebrook
 2012 - Kevin Songer
 2013 - Ron Littlepage
 2014 - Dr. Quinton White
 2015 - Felicia Boyd
 2016 - Lucy Cortese
 2017 - Sarah Boren
 2018 - Jimmy Orth
 2019 - Mark Mummaw
 2021 - Anna Dooley
 2022 - Melissa Ross
 2023 - Dr. Gerry Pinto

2024 - Gloria McNair

2025 - Larry Figart

Winner Of The 2026 Christi P. Veleta Award

Dr. Laureen Husband – for building an expansive model of environmental education that connects environmental stewardship to workforce development, food security and economic mobility.