Last night, Captain Frank Ernst was honored and received the Coastal Steward Professional award at the 2022 Coastal Bend Bays Foundation Conservation and Stewardship Environmental Awards banquet.
Frank Ernst has been with the University as the small boat captain for 20 years and, throughout that time, has helped with an untold number of research projects and animal rescues in the local bays and estuaries. “Ernst has dedicated countless hours any time of the day, week, or year to help everyone get where they need to be via boat,” a nominee said. “He is always there to help, whether for research, class trips, animal rescues, boat lift issues, or boat mechanics.”
The annual awards hosted by the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation recognize and honor Coastal Bend citizens, educators, businesses, governing bodies, and other entities for environmental contributions. Award winners are chosen based on their significant contributions to habitat conservation, enhancement, protection, restoration, or preservation of the Coastal Bend’s natural resources or education for the region’s youth and adults about the importance and value of their natural surroundings.
Other awards presented during the evening were Sky Lewey, the Legacy award (posthumous award); Gretchen Arnold, Presidents Award; Louis Scott Murray, Coastal Steward Volunteer; Flour Bluff Citizens Council, Coastal Community Award; Phillippe E. Tissot, Ph.D., Conrad Blucher Institute Chair for Coastal Artificial Intelligence at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Higher Education Award; CCA Texas Aransas Bay Chapter, Non-Profit Organization Award; Valero Corpus Christi Refineries, Industry- Port Related Award and Save Our Shores Junk Removal, Business, Non-Port Related Award.
Congratulations Frank!
