Dori Hughes wins conservation volunteer award

The Sea Turtle Preservation Society would like to congratulate Dori Hughes, a longtime volunteer and board member, for being named a finalist in the 2019 national Cox Conserves Heroes program.

Dori was recognized as the Florida winner in the environmental award program and earned a $10,000 award to benefit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. She now competes against eight other worthy winners from across the United States for the national title and a $50,000 prize that would benefit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society.

Online voting in the contest continues through Tuesday, Oct. 15, at coxconservesheroes.com\vote. Please take a moment and support Dori and STPS with your vote.

Dori has been part of the nonprofit organization since it began in 1987. Through the years, she has demonstrated a strong passion and devotion for protecting endangered sea turtles and their marine habitats. Dori holds the state permit for the STPS nesting survey program, in which volunteers record nesting activity on a stretch of beach in Brevard County for the state. Dori was nominated by one of the nesting survey volunteers, Aubry Forsyth.

In addition to her many roles with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Dori also volunteers at the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center, where she participates in the rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles. 

The Cox Conserves Heroes awards program is how Cox Enterprises and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) honor the unsung heroes in our communities, as well as support the local organizations doing the important work of improving the environment. Through the program, Cox hopes to inspire more people to take an active role in community conservation.

To date the national Cox Conserves Heroes program has donated $990,000 to environmental nonprofits and honored more than 200 volunteers.

Part of the Cox Enterprises’ national Cox Conserves sustainability program, Cox Conserves Heroes awards volunteers for their actions in the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington.