2024 Golden Bear Award Recipients
The 2024 Golden Bear Awards were presented at the December 17, 2025 State Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The award presentation can be found here, scroll to agenda item number 12 and select the icon next to “Golden Bear Award Presentations”.
Central Division
Tim Hyland, Natural Resources Program Manager, Santa Cruz District
Coastal Division
Barbara Tejada, Cultural Resources Program Manager, Angeles District
Jason Finlay, District Trails Coordinator, Angeles District
Desert Division
Walter Kirkwood, Volunteer, Colorado Desert District
Northern Division
Lauren Shoemaker, Sector Superintendent II, Gold Fields District
Statewide
Dr. Stephen Lockhart, Current and Founding Board Member, Parks CA - California State Parks' statutory non-profit partner
Honorary Partner
Coastside State Parks Association, Cooperating Association with California State Parks
2023 Golden Bear Award Recipients
The 2023 Golden Bear Awards were presented at the September 12, 2024 State Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The award presentation can be found here, scroll to agenda item number 6 and select the icon next to “Presentation of the 2023 Golden Bear Awards”.
Coastal Division
Rick Matsuo, Park Maintenance Chief, Angeles District
Juan Carlo Mendoza, Volunteer, Mountain Bike Unit (MBU)
Desert Division
Dorothy Benjamin, Volunteer, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Northern Division
Sierra State Parks Foundation, Sierra District
Statewide
Viktor Patino, Office of Grants and Local Services, Community Engagement Division
2022 Golden Bear Award Recipients
2019 Golden Bear Award Recipients