The Jefferson County Sustainability Commission reported the winners of the 2025 Sustainability Awards on May 20, at the Board of County Commissioners Hearing. The awards recognize local achievements in environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, economic vitality and innovation.
The winners are as follows:
Future Leader Award: Claire Naumer – Claire Naumer is a student leader driving change in Jefferson County. As a founding member of Jeffco Students and Parents for Climate Action, she has led meetings with school boards and state legislators, organized community events and facilitated key initiatives like hiring a District Sustainability Manager and applying for electric school buses. Alongside her advocacy, Claire balances academics, competitive swimming, board service and volunteer work.
Sustainable Business Award: New Moon Refillery – New Moon Refillery is focused on sustainability in Lakewood through a zero-waste, refill-first approach to goods. Since its launch, the business has diverted more than 2,500 containers from landfills and has helped customers transition to reusable or compostable alternatives. In 2024 alone, they refilled more than 16,000 ounces of product and saved nearly 900 single-use containers. They also created a “Refills in Review” dashboard for customers to track their impact.
Volunteer: Betty Harris – Betty Harris has been an integral part of the Littleton Garden Club, sharing her expertise in sustainable gardening and fostering a connected community. She provides free training, organizes resource-sharing events, hosts community lunches and encourages plant swaps and sales.
Educator of the Year: Julia Fliss – Julia Fliss from Evergreen Middle School is a proponent of climate action and supports her students as the leader of the EMS Green Team. She has empowered students to advocate for sustainability at the district level, helping them testify in support of a Jeffco Public Schools sustainability policy, thereby turning climate learning into real-world action.
