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 townsendii virginianus), Virginia’s State Bat

Artist: Carl “Spike” Knuth (retired, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

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

Artist: Felice Bond (VMN, Historic Rivers Chapter)

2019

Species: American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)

Artist: Linda Duncan (VMN, Old Rag Chapter)

2020

Species: Stonefly (Acroneuria sp.)

Artist: Rachel Caro (VMN, Holston Rivers Chapter)

2022

Geological Feature: Virginia’s Watersheds

Artist: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

2023

Species: Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Artist: Deborah Humphries (VMN, Historic Rivers Chapter)

2024

Species: Virginia-creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Artist: Rosalind “Ros” Reilly (VMN, James River Chapter)

2025

Species: Clymene Moth (Haploa clymene)

Artist: Rosalind Ilett (VMN, Roanoke Valley Chapter)