The Louisville Zoo’s mission is to better the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in conservation education.

Volunteers are integral to this goal as we educate, entertain and involve diverse groups of people from all walks of life. It takes work, dedication and many, many helping hands to make your Louisville Zoo a world-class, award-winning destination for family fun.

Jonathon Michael Heaton Award

This award is given out each year to an outstanding youth volunteer.  The award is named after Jonathon Michael Heaton who gave over 3,000 volunteer hours to the Zoo before passing away in 1999 from a heart attack, due to a congenital heart condition.  His dedication and memory are kept alive through this award.

Xavier Winner, Heaton Family, Diane Taylor and Director Dan Maloney

2024 Winner: Xavier Mudd

Xavier has been a dedicated volunteer to Glacier Run since he began volunteering last summer. He rarely misses a day and even came in with a broken arm. He not only helps in glacier run but also supports the zoo in other ways by leading the new group of teen volunteers on their orientation tour as well as running the Throo the Zoo 5K. He takes care of all of our diets and cleaning of the kitchen. He has been responsible for making enrichment items for our pinnipeds and bears. He is always willing to help with extra projects that we have going on and makes sure to let us know he is available for whatever we need without any hesitation. He has a positive attitude and a fun sense of humor. We were short staffed and his shoes got stuck to the freezer floor. He didn’t want to worry us, so he removed his feet from the shoes and pulled them off by hand. He later told us about what happened, and we all had a great laugh. We feel like he really exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding volunteer, and the zoo is lucky to have him. (Nominated by Glacier Run Staff)

Diane Taylor Spirit Award

The award is named after Coordinator of Volunteers, Diane Taylor for her 30+ years of service.  It recognizes an adult volunteer who exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism through service and dedication.

2024 Winner:  Ann Schwartz

(left to right) Diane Taylor, Ann Schwartz

As a docent Ann has shared her knowledge of animals with our guests of all ages.  She helps with the daily husbandry for the raptors and the animals in the MetaZoo every Monday.  She has presented our ambassador raptors at classes and camps, engaged guests at various exhibits as she interprets with biofacts, and helps create memories for guests at many of our special events.

Ann has been a docent for many years and has helped spread our message to countless children during camps and classes as well as our general visitors doing interpretation at various exhibits.  She has been a raptor docent since 2013 showing dedication to the birds every Monday through all kinds of weather.  Before helping with the raptors on Mondays she spends her morning helping the MetaZoo keepers with their animals, so she puts in a full day!  She also volunteers at the botanical gardens downtown.  You can always count on Ann to be willing to sign up to help at the Zoo’s special events like most recently the Cultural Pass celebration at the main library.  And she does all this with a cheerful attitude and a smile!  (Nominated by Dana Prior, Bird Department Staff)

2023 Winners Spotlight (click to expand)

(left to right) Dan Maloney, Diane Taylor, Susan Norman

2023 Heaton Award Winner

We are thrilled to announce Lyric P. Bentley as the deserving winner of the 2023 Jonathon Michael Heaton Outstanding Youth Award. As a dedicated teen volunteer at the Zoo since April 2019, Lyric’s contributions have been invaluable. From diligently preparing diets and handling daily supplies in the commissary to washing dishes and assisting with various tasks, Lyric’s commitment and hard work have not gone unnoticed. Beyond her regular duties, she has also been an active member of the Louisville Zoo Youth Board, eagerly participating in all activities and showing unwavering support for the Zoo. Lyric’s friendly and informative interactions with Zoo guests have left a positive and lasting impression on everyone she encounters. Her passion for volunteering extends to working with camp activities, exemplifying her dedication to enriching the Zoo experience for all visitors. We are proud to honor Lyric for her outstanding service and selfless contributions to our Zoo community.

 

Pictured above are members of Jonathon Michael Heaton’s family as well as Lyric Bentley;  Zoo Director, Daniel Maloney; and Coordinator of Volunteers, Diane Taylor

2023 Winner Spirit Award

We are delighted to announce Susan Norman as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Diane Taylor Spirit Award. This award recognizes an adult volunteer whose service and dedication to the Zoo and its mission “to better the bond between people and our planet” truly exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism. For over two decades, Susan has been an unwavering and dedicated Raptor Docent at the zoo, committing her time every week to the ambassador raptors. Her skilled presentations and vast knowledge have educated and inspired countless visitors, from young campers to elderly nursing home residents. Beyond her commitment to the Zoo, Susan’s altruism extends to the Oldham County Humane Society, showcasing her compassion for all animals. Her kindness and thoughtfulness towards her fellow volunteers also make her a truly exceptional person. Susan Norman’s remarkable service and devotion make her a most deserving recipient of this award.

2022 Winners Spotlight (click to expand)

Pictured above are members of Jonathon Michael Heaton’s family as well as Lilly Hotkewitz;  Zoo Director, Daniel Maloney; and Coordinator of Volunteers, Diane Taylor

The 2022 winner is Lilly Hotkewitz.  She was nominated by Gorilla Forest keeper Alexis Williamson who said, “Lily has gone above and beyond in her volunteer duties. Never needing to be guided, she always finds things to do until staff assigns her another task. She started as a teen volunteer in the summer of 2017 but chose to continue volunteering on the weekends once school went back into session. She has been an invaluable asset as a volunteer and as a member of the Louisville Zoo Youth Board.”

Pictured above Zoo Director Dan Maloney, Emeritus Docent Kathy Nuss and Coodinator of Volunteers Diane Taylor.

The 2022 Diane Taylor Spirit Award winner is Katy Nuss. Kathy has amassed over 15,500 volunteer hours as an Emeritus Docent. The commissary staff said, “Kathy always comes in with a big smile on her face and is always eager to help with whatever duties we assign. She’s a fast learner and isn’t afraid to ask questions. She is a big help and a joy to have in the commissary; she makes our days better with her joyful personality.”

 

Below, see a list of award-winning volunteers who have been recognized for their outstanding volunteer work at the Louisville Zoo!

Diane Taylor Spirit Award Winners

Jonathan Michael Heaton Winners