The Island County Marine Resources Committee voted this month to rename the annual Coastal Volunteer Award to honor Jan Holmes, an inspiring volunteer and environmental champion who passed away in December.

As a Washington State University Beach Watcher, Holmes went back to school and earned a degree in marine science, working closely with the committee in rigorous eelgrass research and other scientific projects to expand knowledge of the county’s nearshore marine waters. Committee members said she was the quintessential volunteer, contributing thousands of hours of service, and in 2010 won the prestigious Cox Conserves Hero Award from KIRO-TV and the Trust for Public Land.

Every year the Marine Resources Committee and WSU Extension jointly honor one Island County citizen for voluntary service. The winner is named during the annual Sound Waters event, a one-day university to be held this year Saturday, Feb. 4, at South Whidbey High School.