WSBAA Award Nominations

Good afternoon CBSOA Members,

The California Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) participates in the Western States Boating Administrators Association (WSBAA), whose mission is to share best practices in boating education, law enforcement, search and rescue, and waterway management; promote consistency in boating laws; and encourage cooperation and efficiency among boating agencies across the western states.

WSBAA has opened the award nomination process for its 65th Annual Conference, to be held in Seward, Alaska, and is currently requesting nominations in two award categories. We are reaching out to our partners and stakeholders in hopes of submitting several strong nominations on behalf of California to recognize the outstanding work being done every day.

If you know of an individual or group deserving of recognition, please submit your nomination to Zach Mundy at Zachary.Mundy@parks.ca.gov no later than March 20, 2026.

Award categories are outlined below:

• The Hollister Award

The Hollister Award is WSBAA’s most prestigious honor and was established at the first WSBAA conference on May 11, 1962, to recognize the late Senator John J. Hollister, Jr. of California, known as the “Father of Good Boating Legislation.” This award recognizes outstanding service in the field of boating safety. Both individuals and groups (public or private) are eligible recipients.

• Jeffrey S. Johnson Boating Professional of the Year Award

Formerly known as the President’s Award, this honor was renamed in 2017 to recognize the lifetime accomplishments of Alaska Boating Law Administrator Jeff Johnson. The award is sponsored by Boater Exam and is open to any boating professional. Historically selected by the host state to ensure the recipient’s presence, this award recognizes exceptional contributions to boating safety and professionalism.