Volunteer Recognition: Gerry Burke

Editor’s Note: This article also appears in the STPS 2026 Summer Edition Turtle Times Newsletter (see page 19).

Gerry Has Been an STPS Volunteer for 22 Years!

She joined STPS in 2004 and was in the same Volunteer Orientation class as former Chair Roger Pszonowsky. Gerry’s accomplished a lot in the last 20 plus years. Since 2011, she’s been the Beach Cleanup Coordinator for Val M. Steele Park (formerly Coconut Point Park). Then, in 2012, she was named STPS Volunteer of the Year. In 2015, STPS added Cherie Down Park to our monthly beach cleanups, and she became the coordinator for it too. She’s also done Night Walks and taken STERP training. Now, after 15 years of hard work, Gerry’s stepping away from her current role, but will continue volunteering for STPS when she can.

Why does Gerry love STPS Beach Cleanups so much? According to her “Volunteer Spotlight” written by Megan Maynard in 2020, Gerry really loves meeting people of all ages. From school groups, to parents with kids, tourists, and students doing community service, she enjoys interacting with the public, telling them about the sea turtles in our area and the work that we do at STPS to help protect them.

During her tenure as Beach Cleanup Coordinator, STPS has won numerous awards from Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB). For example, in 2015, our South Team received First Place for their Adopt-A-Shore Program (see photo below). In addition to our monthly cleanups, our volunteers also participate in other KBB events each year. These include the Trash Bash and International Coastal Cleanup (see photo below).

Thanks Gerry for Your
Amazing Dedication to STPS!