Article originally appeared in the Outer Banks Voice. 

By Rob Morris on February 24, 2014

The National Audubon Society recently awarded conservationist and former president of The Nature Conservancy Patrick F. Noonan with the $100,000 Lufkin Prize, which he will donate to the Donal C. O’Brien Jr. Audubon Sanctuary and Center at Pine Island.

The Lufkin Prize was established last year by Dan Lufkin’s family in recognition of his lifetime commitment to the environment. The prize is meant to honor individuals who have dedicated their lives to on-the-ground conservation.

The Center at Pine Island was named in honor of Donal C. O’Brien, Jr., who was instrumental in arranging the donation of the nearly 3,000 acres in North Carolina to create the state’s first Audubon center.