HSA Honorary Awards
The Western Reserve Herb Society is a unit of The Herb Society of America. HSA is a trusted expert resource on herbs – bringing people together to explore, share and use the power of herbs to build healthier communities and a more sustainable world. At HSA’s annual meeting, members are recognized for their achievements in education, leadership, and the arts as it applies to herbs. WRHS is very proud of its members who have been awarded recognition of their achievements.
Betsy Smith, HSA President with Pam Goetsch. Pam received the Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership 2026.
2025 – Kate Williams received The Elizabeth Crisp Rea Award.
Donna Payerle with Marilyn Rhinehart. Marilyn received the Joanna McQuail Rea Award For the Artistic Use of Herbs 2024.
HSA / WRHS Member Awardees
Year | Member Name | Award |
2026 | Pamela Goetsch | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
2025 | Kate Williams | Elizabeth Crisp Rea Award |
2025 | Mark & Karen Langan
(members-at-large associated with WRHS) | Nancy Putnam Howard Award for Excellence in Horticulture |
2024 | Marilyn Rhinehalt | Joanna McQuail Reed Award for the Artistic Use of Herbs |
2024 | Majorie Fow (posthumous) | Elizabeth Crisp Rea Award |
2021 | Kathleen Gips | Madalene Hill Award for Excellence in Herbal Education |
2012 | Thea Steinmetz | Certificate of Achievement |
2008 | Dr. Lauretta Dennis (posthumous) | Certificate of Appreciation |
2004 | Nancy Comey Stevenson | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
2004 | Eleanor Lowe Donley | Joanna McQuail Reed Award for the Artistic Use of Herbs |
2003 | Patricia Goodman (posthumous) | Certificate of Appreciation |
2000 | Jolie Bishop | Certificate of Achievement |
1999 | Roxanne Bell | Certificate of Appreciation |
1995 | Genevieve Gleason Jyurovat | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
1994 | Eleanor Lowe Donley | Certificate of Achievement |
1992 | Emily Kutscher | Certificate of Appreciation |
1991 | Elizabeth Barrick Neavill | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
1989 | E. Blanche Harvey | Certificate of Achievement |
1987 | Genevieve Gleason Jyurovat | Certificate of Achievement |
1985 | Faith H. Swanson | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
1985 | Virgina B. Rady | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
1982 | Nelle Neff | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
1979 | Jack Durell | Certificate of Achievement |
1973 | Elsetta Gilchrist Barnes | Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for Leadership |
1963 | Hester Taylor Crawford | Medal of Honor* |
THE HELEN DE CONWAY LITTLE MEDAL OF HONOR – established 1956 and is the highest award given by The Society and honors someone for outstanding service and dedication to The Society or the world of horticulture. *Note the Medal of Honor subsequently became known as the Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor in 1966.
THE NANCY PUTHAM HOWARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HORTICULTURE – established 1985 to honor individuals who perpetuate excellence in horticulture.
THE GERTRUDE B. FOSTER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HERBAL LITERATURE – established 1998 and intended to encourage the dissemination of accurate herbal information and to recognize outstanding researchers, educators, and authors who exhibit exceptional scholarship in a published non-fiction book which serves to inspire the “use and delight” of herbs.
THE JOANNA McQUAIL REED AWARD FOR THE ARTISTIC USE OF HERBS – established 2003, the award recognizes those who express the delight of herbs artistically – creating original needlework, painting, photography, garden design, culinary, or other art forms
THE ELIZABETH CRISP REA AWARD – established 2014, the award recognizes an individual who has worked with determination to create and/or preserve a public garden and in so doing promotes herbs for use and delight.
MADALENE HILL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HERBAL EDUCATION – established 2018 to recognize those who have a passion for promoting the knowledge, “use and delight” of herbs through educational activities at any level.
THE MIGHTY OAK AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CONSERVATION – established 2023 to recognize the importance of conservation in its many aspects and the need to acknowledge those in our membership and communities that strive to support our environment.
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT – established 1976 honors those people who have made significant contributions in various ways to the work of The Society or the world of herbs.
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION – established 1982 to recognize those who have contributed a great deal personally to The Society or to those who have admirably completed a special assignment or project.