Recertification Pin Artwork History

Since 2011, we recognize Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers who have completed all the requirements to become re-certified with a special species pin based on original artwork.  Below is the list of species and artists for each year, along with the drawings or photographs that were used as the basis for the pins.

2011
​Species: Virginia Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus (= Plecotus) townsendii virginianus), Virginia's State Bat
Artist: Carl "Spike" Knuth (retired, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)

2012
​Species: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Virginia's State Flower and State Tree
Artist: Betty Gatewood (VMN-Headwaters Chapter)

2013
​Species: Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Virginia's State Freshwater Fish
​Artist: Repp Glaettli (VMN-Rivanna Chapter)

2014
​Species: Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Artist: Lara Call Gastinger (VMN-Rivanna Chapter and chief illustrator for the Flora of Virginia)

2015
​Species: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Virginia's State Bird
​Artist: Polly Ward Mercker (VMN-Northern Neck Chapter)

2016
Species: Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Lithobates kauffeldi)
Artist: Stephanie Schmuck (VMN-Historic Rivers Chapter)

2017
​Species: Woodland Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
Artist: Kathy Fell (VMN-Southwestern Piedmont Chapter)

2018
​Species: Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica), ​Virginia's State Shell
Photographer: Felice Bond (VMN-Historic Rivers Chapter)