Massive congrats and kudos to Sequoia Newberg, Karl Anuta and Mike Sargetakis who were recently recognized by Surfrider Foundation's national staff and board of directors for their outstanding service and contributions to our network's mission. Surfrider Foundation annually recognizes several categories of service across our national network through our annual Wavemaker Awards and while we all know our Oregon volunteers are special, it's an extreme honor for these individuals to receive this nationwide recognition. Sequoia received the Youth Volunteer Service Wavemaker and Karl and Mike received the Distinguished Legal Service Wavemaker Award.
Newport Youth Volunteer Receives National Recognition
At 15 years old, Sequoia Newberg already has more of a Surfrider tenure of service under her belt than most of our adult volunteers. At the age of six she started helping to support beach cleanups, eventually growing to lead those cleanups and head up our beach cleanup challenge at our annual Otter Rock n Roll Surf and Stewardship event. She's been presenting her findings and supporting plastic pollution efforts providing presentations to the public and her peers, demonstrating a strong stewardship ethic in school and out. Last year she even traveled to Washington, DC to lobby with Surfrider at the Capitol as part of our Coastal Recreation Hill Day event. We're stoked to have her Sequoia on our team and can't think of a better way to honor than through our national staff and board of directors Youth Volunteer Wavemaker Award!
Sequoia (left) at the Capitol last March with our "sign the surfboard" in an effort to garner signatures from Congressional members to oppose offshore oil drilling.
Lighthouse Beach Legal Team Receives National Recognition
Karl Anuta and Mike Sargetakis have spent countless hours dedicating their legal support to our Coos Bay Chapter's tireless efforts to reopne Lighthouse Beach access. A major Surfrider
campaign the Coos Bay Chapter launched over two years ago in late 2021, Mike, now with
CRAG law center, and Karl who runs his own
Law Office helped the chapter file a lawsuit in June of 2022 to support the chapter in reopening the long used beach access to Lighthouse Beach. Leading up to the suit and ever since then, the team has been on call with our staff and legal team just about every week dedicating an immense amount of time and legal support. And today, nearly at the finish line with a settlement agreement that would turn over the access to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and permanently restore access, we couldn't be more proud of their relentless dedication. Our Coos Bay chapter and everyone that enjoys Lighthouse Beach could not be more pleased with their support and the real difference they are making in supporting many future generations of Oregonians right to access one of our most treasured beaches. The national board of directors and staff honor Mike and Karl with the 2023 Distinguished Legal Service Wavemaker Award!
Beyond the suits and courtroom, Mike Sargetakis (left) and Karl Anuta (right) love to spend time outdoors and enjoying what they work everyday to protect!