KSB Annual Awards
In General
Each year the Keep Sedona Beautiful Annual Awards honors individuals, businesses or organizations that demonstrate outstanding public or commercial architectural design, exceptional xeriscaping, lighting, signage, or provide exceptional service to the community. The awards honor those who have most contributed to the mission to "Keep Sedona Beautiful."
Judging for new or redesigned buildings is based on their harmony with the natural environment, beyond what is required by municipal or county regulations. KSB believes that the scenic beauty of Sedona should be protected, and that the built environment should never compete for attention with our natural surroundings, day or night. Outdoor lighting, signage and landscaping are judged by the same standards. Single-family homes are not usually considered for these awards, unless there is an exceptional innovation in environmental construction.
Special attention is given to major improvements in existing buildings, lighting and signage which did not previously conform to these standards. Innovations in environmentally-sensitive building, native low-water-use landscaping and elimination of non-conforming signs are considered as well.
Community service awards are made for outstanding contributions to the community by individuals, businesses and organizations.
Award presentations are held in February of the year following the November nominations.
KSB Awards of Excellence for 2012 held February 16, 2013
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Sustainability for the Future”. We will honor contributions which have kept this place so special with an eye toward keeping it special well into the future.
Learn about projects and groups involved in sustainable practices.
Those honored this year are working very hard to keep Sedona beautiful without compromising future needs.
Congratulations to:
Red Rock Ranger District - Signage 
Town of Clarkdale - Permaculture Project 
Sedona Recycles - Acceptance of Styrofoam 
Enchantment Resort - Exemplary Sustainable Practices 
Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District Office - Green Building 
Sedona Wetlands Preserve - Creation of Wildlife Habitat Using Treated Effluent 
M & M Property Management - Additional Solar Panel Installation 
NRG Build Pros - Zero Waste Production in Residential Building Project 
Sedona West Elementary Green Club - Grade 6 Green Team Efforts 
The speaker this year is KSB president, Tom O’Halleran. Tom served in the Arizona State Legislature from 2006-2008. Tom chaired several committees which included the House Resource Committee and the Senate Higher Education Committee. He is Co-Founder of the Arizona Watershed Alliance and has chaired the Verde Watershed Association.
KSB’s 41st Annual Awards of Excellence luncheon will be held at Tlaquepaque in the upstairs ballroom on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 12:00 PM. Wildflower Bakery is providing the buffet luncheon. All seating is by reservation only. Tickets are $30 per person for KSB members and $35 for non KSB members. A table of ten general seating may be purchased for $275. A table of ten including the honoree and guest may be purchased for $215. Please call the KSB office at 928.282.4938 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to reserve your tickets today!
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s event! Please join us in recognizing efforts to Keep Sedona Beautiful.
KSB Awards of Excellence for 2011
KSB’s 40th Annual Awards of Excellence luncheon will be held at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa on Sunday, February 19, 2012 starting at 11:30. All seating is by reservation only. Tickets are $35 per person or a table of ten can be purchased for $325. Please call the KSB office at 928.282.4938 to reserve now!
To celebrate KSB’s 40th Anniversary, we have chosen the “Four Decades of Treasures,” as this Year's Theme
We Will Honor the most significant contributions which have kept this place so special
and, A Very Special Speaker ...
Lisa Schnebly Heidinger
| Our “Four Decades of Treasures” include: | |
| The Forest Management Plan | Sedona Academy |
| Friends of the Forest | Educational Resources |
| Sedona Recycles | Sedona-Oak Creek School District |
| KSB Litter Lifters | Yavapai College, Sedona Campus |
| Land Preservation | Sedona Public Library |
| Sedona Heritage Museum | KSB Native Plant Workshop |
| Building Community | Red Rock State Park |
| Sedona Incorporation | Performing Arts |
| Big Park Regional Council | Jazz on the Rocks |
| Roadway Enhancements | Chamber Music Sedona |
| Uptown Enhancement Project | Sedona Arts Center Theatre |
| Highway 179 Project | Southwest Theatre |
| Sedona Community Center | Canyon Moon Theatre |
| Tlaquepaque |
This year, to celebrate KSB’s 40th Anniversary, we will have a special guest speaker who can weave Sedona into a broader context. Lisa Schnebly Heidinger is a very dynamic speaker, story teller, and accomplished author. Lisa’s love of Arizona is as deep as her roots; Sedona was named for her great-grandmother, Sedona Schnebly. For 30 years, Lisa has been a journalist, finding and recording Arizona’s stories, first as a newspaper and television reporter, then as a columnist and author. She has written six books and countless articles about aspects of Arizona
February 14, 2012 will be the Arizona State Centennial, and Lisa’s most recent book is the official State Centennial book, “Arizona: 100 Years Grand.” This book was a six-year labor of love. Besides writing our state’s official centennial book, Lisa serves on the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission and the Arizona Centennial Commission, as well as the Centennial Foundation Board.
Tom & Shondra will be our Masters of Ceremonies for our Awards of Excellence presentations and great raffle prizes.
The cost of the luncheon is $35 per person for KSB members and $40 per person for non KSB members. You can reserve a complete table for 10. The entire table will be $325.
Reservations can be made by contacting Jan or Wendy in the KSB office at 282-4938 or email your request to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We look forward to a wonderful event honoring businesses and organizations that help keep Sedona beautiful.
Prior Annual Awards of Excellence Presentations
KSB 39th Awards of Excellence for 2010
On February 13th, 2011, Keep Sedona Beautiful held its 39th Annual Awards of Excellence luncheon to honor individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made a significant contribution to keeping Sedona beautiful.
The 2010 award honorees were:
Architectural Design - The Hike House
Signage - City of Sedona Department of Parks and Rec
Signage - Desert Quail Inn.
Community Service - Sandie Hensley
Community Service - Cornucopia Community Advocates
Landscaping - Sedona Area Garden Club
Landscaping - Dry Creek Plaza
Conservation - Sedona Oak Creek School District Solar Farm at the High School
Special Community Award -
Sedona Oak Creek School District for the Sedona Performing Arts Center
The KSB Ken Corey Award - Cole Greenberg
The KSB Awards of Excellence 2010 Honorees
Keep Sedona Beautiful's Annual Awards
The Keep Sedona Beautiful Annual Awards honors individuals, businesses or organizations that demonstrate outstanding public or commercial architectural design, exceptional xeriscaping, lighting, signage, or provide exceptional service to the community. The awards honor those who have most contributed to the mission to “Keep Sedona Beautiful.” The 2009 Winners will be honored at a special Keep Sedona Beautiful Awards of Excellence Celebration luncheon on Sunday February 14, 2010 at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa. Popular Sedona entertainers Tom and Shondra will emcee the luncheon and this year we'll have fun with a special Valentine's Day theme. The luncheon will be from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Tickets are $35 for KSB members and $40 for non KSB members. Please call the KSB office to reserve your tickets now at 282.4938.
Judging for new or redesigned buildings is based on their harmony with the natural environment, beyond what is required by municipal or county regulations. Keep Sedona Beautiful believes that the scenic beauty of Sedona should be protected, and that the built environment should never compete for attention with our natural surroundings, day or night. Outdoor lighting, signage and landscaping are judged by the same standards. Single-family homes are not usually considered for these awards, unless there is an exceptional innovation in environmental construction.
Special attention is given to major improvements in existing buildings, lighting and signage which did not previously conform to these standards. Innovations in environmentally-sensitive building, native low-water-use landscaping and elimination of non-conforming signs are considered as well.
Community service awards are made for outstanding contributions to the community by individuals, businesses and organizations.The following individuals, businesses, and organizations will be honored in categories which include architecture, landscaping, lighting, signage, and outstanding community service: West Sedona Elementary School, Big Park Community School, Oak Creek Canyon Task Force, Ciera Crawley, Rita Livingston, Barbara Litrell, Sedona Volunteer Park Ranger, Jim Eaton, Beatrice Welles, and Jordan Road Project.
The winner of the 3rd Annual “Capture the Wonder” Photo Contest will also be announced at the awards luncheon.
2007 Awards
Theme: Inspiring Efforts2007 Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery
Building and Architecture
- Chamber of Commerce Uptown Visitor Information Center
- Amitabha Stupa
- Shepard Wesnitzer Office Building
Uptown Enhancement Project
Community Service
- Doug Blackwell
- Sedona Community Foundation
- Voice of Choice for Highway 179
- Barbara R. Brown
- Ruth Kane
- Marie Brown
- Sedona Water Wise Alliance
- Bob Carabell
Norman McGee Award
- Stephen DeVol
The Norman McGee Award is the highest recognition that KSB can bestow on an individual for outstanding dedication and service to Keep Sedona Beautiful and to the community, over a number of years. This award is not given lightly nor regularly – only when obviously and richly deserved. The 2007 Norman McGee Award recipient is Stephen DeVol.
Emcees: Tom & Shondra
Special thanks to Shondra for writing the music and lyrics for We Are the Guardians which expresses her love of Sedona and the responsibilities of all residents and visitors who care about Sedona! Keep Sedona Beautiful is grateful to Shondra for presenting We Are The Guardians theme song as a gift to Keep Sedona Beautiful on the occasion of its 35th anniversary of Preserving the Wonder®.
Most Sedonans know Shondra as half of the well known entertainment duo, Tom & Shondra. What most people don’t know is that she composes and arranges all of the duo’s music herself by layering and recording each instrument digitally. The duo does not use karaoke tracks but rather her recorded compositions whether it be dance music or show tunes. In addition, she is a songwriter and has been composing her own songs in every style imaginable for years. This includes tunes she’s written for organizations, commercials and projects of all kinds.
To contact Tom & Shondra, call 282- 3530 or www.tomandshondra.com