Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation
Behind the scenes, many individuals, organizations, businesses, tribes, and government leaders are initiating outstanding programs and policies to protect and enhance the lands and waters of the Lake Michigan Basin.
Annually since 2014, the Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation awards have honored outstanding environmental achievements of those who have gone beyond the normal scope of work on the restoration, improvement, or enhancement of Lake Michigan and its watersheds.
Meet our 2025 Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation:
sARAH dEzWARTE
Since 2005, Sarah Dezwarte has served as the Director of Education at the Sheboygan County YMCA, leading environmental education programs for schools, youth groups, and adults. Her work fosters a deeper understanding of the natural world and environmental issues like climate change, pollution, and resource depletion, with a focus on the Great Lakes region.
Sarah’s passion for the Great Lakes has led her to participate in research aboard the EPA R/V Lake Guardian and sail the S/V Denis Sullivan. She has created numerous water-focused learning experiences for local students, including a Lake Michigan program at Kohler-Andrae State Park.
Recognizing the importance of outdoor play in child development, Sarah helped launch Sheboygan County’s first nature-based 4K preschool in partnership with the Sheboygan Area School District and Maywood Environmental Park.
She holds a biology degree from UW-Milwaukee, a master’s in education, a teaching license from Lakeland University, and a graduate certificate in environmental education from UW-Stevens Point.
Sarah and her husband Todd have two children, Ethan and Ellison, and enjoy exploring Wisconsin’s natural areas as a family.
eMILY wOOD
Emily is the Executive Director of the Door County Land Trust (DCLT) which protects and stewards over 10,000 acres across the Door peninsula and its islands. Since joining DCLT in 2022, she has led the organization in implementing an ambitious, proactive approach to land conservation—one that meets the challenge of unprecedented development pressure while protecting the county’s most ecologically significant landscapes. Previously serving as the Executive Director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, Emily collaborated with the National Wildlife Federation, Ohio River Sanitary Commission (ORSANCO), Great Lakes Conservation Coalition, and the Indiana Conservation Alliance to address pressing environmental, climate, wildlife, and habitat policy issues. Emily currently serves on Gathering Waters Wisconsin Land Trust Council, which provides technical assistance, training, and continuing education for land trusts, as well as advocating for policies that support land and water conservation. She enjoys fishing, photography, birdwatching, and time away from her cell phone.
dAVID mILLER
After graduating from Carroll University in 2020 with a Bachelors of Science in Biology degree, David moved to Sheboygan, WI six years ago and has been teaching botany and running the greenhouse at Sheboygan North High School ever since. In addition to running an annual plant sale every May and continually working to improve school grounds by adding trees and shrubs, David teaches students how to propagate their own houseplants and grow their own fruits and vegetables. He is proud to be the staff advisor for North High's Interact Club, a rotary affiliated student organization that allows the youth of Sheboygan to get further involved with their community through events ranging from city tree plantings to school food drives. Through collaboration with local organization Restoration of Our Trees-Sheboygan (ROOTS) and the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), David has implemented four Sheboygan Area School District campus plantings with plans to plant all remaining SASD campuses in the coming years to address the growing need for urban reforestation of a Wisconsin tree canopy severely impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer. Given the apropos title of "Mr. Tree" by many of his students, David continually seeks ways to integrate nature into the classroom and is a staunch advocate for environmental stewardship and conservation.
In his free time, David's other interests include cross country skiing, a sport that he actively competes in every winter with races like the American Birkebeiner and coaches through the Sheboygan County collaborative team known as the Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Storm. Aa an avid hiker, to date he has completed the Colorado Trail and over the coming summers is in pursuit of completion of the Pacific Crest Trail, a continuous footpath which crosses the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges, ultimately spanning the entire west coast of the United States from Canada to Mexico.
aMY cARROZZINO-lYON
Amy Carrozzino-Lyon has been learning from and conserving the Bay of Green Bay west shore coastal wetlands for more than 10 years. As Restoration Scientist and Green Bay Restoration Project Coordinator at UW-Green Bay and a UW-Madison Division of Extension affiliate, she coordinates with conservation partners and community groups to monitor and enhance coastal wetland communities along the Green Bay west shore.
Amy’s background in Green Bay involves understanding and stewarding aquatic vegetation communities, including managing non-local wetland plants like Phragmites and enhancing habitat for native wetland plants, including Manoomin (wild rice). Amy has been working to restore wild rice presence in coastal wetlands, coordinate a monitoring program to continue to learn from wild rice about needs and challenges, and mentor and educate students about the importance of wild rice and coastal wetland communities. Manoomin continues to be a patient teacher and resilient guide.
Amy also serves as a mentor for student research assistants, teaches courses, and advises students at UW-Green Bay preparing to pursue their careers in conservation. In collaboration with her amazing project team at UW-Green Bay, she also hosts freshwater outreach programming for K-12 students and educators throughout northeastern Wisconsin around water, wetlands, and wild rice. Amy lives along the Green Bay west shore in Suamico and can be found recreating in many of the beautiful places where she works.
mAYOR rYAN sORENSON
Ryan Sorenson is the 59 th Mayor of the City of Sheboygan. He is the youngest serving mayor in the city’s history, and he is currently serving in his second term. Prior to being elected mayor, Sorenson served on the City Council and was the Council President. Mayor Sorenson was born and raised in Sheboygan. He graduated from South High School. Sorenson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History. While at UW-Milwaukee, Sorenson served as the student body president, and was in the political science honor society.
The Mayor is the CEO of the City, and is the head of government. The Mayor is also primarily responsible for managing external relations for the city. Some of Mayor Sorenson’s key initiatives center around improving infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and advocating for housing.
Mayor Sorenson is very active with the US Conference of Mayor. The Mayor serves as the Co-Chair for the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Cities Initiative. He is also on the board for The Bay Lakes Regional Planning Commission, and is on the Executive Committee for the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation. He also serves on the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Wisconsin Advisory Committee. The Mayor additionally serves on the board for the Wisconsin- Hessen Society.
2025 Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation Selection Committee:
