Two teams of Ohio Sea Grant extension specialists were recently honored with regional awards from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP).
Dr. Scott Hardy, Ohio Sea Grant extension specialist, and Samuel Cedeño Montalvo, intern and Case Western Reserve University undergraduate student, won the 2026 Ohio NACDEP Award for Educational Materials for their project “Innovative Solutions to Spotted Lanternfly in Coastal Ohio.”
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive pest native to Asia that was first reported in Ohio in 2021.
Meanwhile, Joe Lucente, Ohio Sea Grant extension educator, and Sarah Orlando, Clean Marinas program manager, won the 2026 Ohio NACDEP Award for Excellence in Community Development for their team’s work on the “2025 Ohio Marina Industry Business Retention and Expansion Initiative.”
The lanternfly project helped address Ohio’s spotted lanternfly infestation and resultant water quality concerns associated with chemical controls. In summer 2025, Ohio Sea Grant hosted a Community Engaged Internship, a Sea Grant-sponsored program for undergraduate students, to develop and implement an applied project to educate local communities about the devastating invasive species.
The project yielded several outreach materials: a fact sheet, a tri-fold handout for youth, and an educational video – all produced in both English and Spanish.
Through the marina industry project, Ohio Sea Grant and partners established a team to gather business information and concerns about Ohio’s marina industry to ensure the industry’s viability and continued success as an important part of Ohio’s recreation economy. Lucente and Orlando coordinated a business retention and expansion program from 2024 to 2025, and through surveys, interviews, and stakeholder engagement, the team identified key strengths, barriers, and actionable strategies to support the industry.
The Ohio Clean Marinas Program assists in protecting clean water and fresh air for generations of boaters to come.
Partners involved in the project included the Ohio Marine Trades Association (OMTA), the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management, and Ohio State University Extension.
“These two projects showcase the great work being done by our Ohio Sea Grant Extension team,” said Ohio Sea Grant Extension Program Leader Tory Gabriel. “They’re out there in their communities every day, connecting people with resources to help businesses and communities thrive while protecting Ohio’s water resources. Congratulations to Scott, Samuel, Joe, and Sarah, on their well-earned recognition.”
For more about these projects, contact Hardy at hardy.116@osu.edu, Lucente at lucente.6@osu.edu, and Orlando at orlando.42@osu.edu.
Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.