Blackstone Heritage Corridor (BHC), a nonprofit providing strong leadership to preserve, promote, and celebrate the Blackstone Valley’s historic, natural, and recreational resources, is seeking nominations for its 2025 Champions of the Blackstone Awards. Awards include the John H. Chafee Leadership Award, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Student of the Year Award, Suzanne Buchanan Volunteer of the Year Award, and the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Partner of the Year Award. 

Created by the Blackstone Heritage Corridor, the John H. Chafee Leadership Award honors the late senator’s legacy and recognizes individuals who have worked on projects that promote cultural heritage, environmental conservation, economic development, and the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley. Past years’ recipients have included community and business leaders, preservation heroes, and environmental advocates whose achievements resulted in the public’s benefit. These heroes have demonstrated the Valley’s long tradition of leadership and inspiration. 

The Blackstone Heritage Corridor Student of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding student or group of students (Elementary, Middle, and High School age) who have worked on projects that promote cultural heritage and/or environmental conservation in the Blackstone River Valley. The project does not have to be affiliated directly with a school; homeschool students/groups, extra-curricular groups, and scouts/troops are eligible. 

The Suzanne Buchanan Volunteer of the Year Award was created in 2021 to honor a Blackstone Heritage Corridor Volunteer who embodies the welcoming spirit and unbridled enthusiasm that Suzanne, the former Volunteer Coordinator of BHC, demonstrated. The award also recognizes extraordinary volunteer hours recorded and/or recruitment of volunteers and supporters of the heritage resources in this region. 

The Blackstone Heritage Corridor Partner of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding partner organization that has worked on projects that promote cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley. 

Find the nomination forms at BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org/champions-of-the-blackstone. Nominations must be received by October 15, 2025. The awards ceremony will be held Wednesday, December 3, at the Alternative’s Whitin Mill in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. 

To learn more about Blackstone Heritage Corridor, visit BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.