Celebrating Delta Champions Since 2022
Delta Leadership Foundation recognizes Delta Champions in the following categories:
Delta Preserver – Achievement in historical or environmental preservation
Delta Promoter – Achievement in tourism, agriculture, education, commerce, and/or the arts
Delta Improver – Achievement in Delta health, community, and/or quality of life
Delta Legacy Family – A family that has contributed to the Delta for at least 100 years through multi-generational professional and volunteer activities that have enhanced the quality of life of the region.
Delta Lifetime Achievement – Lifetime achievement in preservation, protection and promotion of the Delta
TO NOMINATE A DELTA CHAMPION FOR 2025, please submit a brief nomination letter to eavink@gmail.com. The letter should indicate the person/entity/family nominated and the reasons for the nomination, and should include contact information (telephone and email address) for the nominator and the nominee. Nominations will be accepted until June 27, 2025 and awardees will be celebrated at a dinner in Thornton (Silverdale Ranch) on Tuesday, September 9.
2024 Delta Champion Awardees
2023 Delta Champion Awardees
Left to right: Suzanne Black and Jean Yokotobi (Isleton Chamber of Commerce) – Delta Innovator; Dante Nomellini Jr. and Thomas Zuckerman – Delta Lifetime Achievement; Chantelle Leighton (daughter of posthumous awardee Kathy Leighton) – Delta Preserver; Rich Turner – Delta Promoter; Don Nottoli – Delta Improver
2022 Delta Champion Awardees
Left to right: Brady Whitlow (son-in-law of posthumous awardee Dino Cortopassi) – Delta Preserver; Tom Surh (RioVision) – Delta Innovator; Dr. Henry Go – Delta Lifetime Achievement; Trevor Carlson (grandson of posthumous awardee Dino Cortopassi) – Delta Preserver; Barbara Barrigan-Parilla (Restore the Delta) – Delta Improver; Bill Wells – Delta Promoter
