Members of the Herndon Masonic Lodge presented the 2005 Community Builder Award to John Dudzinsky, town forester, last week.
The Community Builder Award is given each year to an individual that has exhibited exemplary qualities and commitment to strengthening the community of Herndon.
As the town forester for 16 years, Dudzinsky has protected the trees on public and private property in Herndon and advised homeowners on tree selection and care. He has also assisted with the Herndon Festival and the annual Farmers' Market.
Dudzinsky has also been involved with the Rattler wrestling program and stepped into the Rattler Team Manager role. He kept this youth team afloat at a time when it was in danger of going under.
Additionally, Dudzinsky has worked closely to support Herndon Optimists Youth Softball, and has been the Boy Scout Troop 1570 Committee Chairman. He has also organized Eagle Scout projects. Dudzinsky is a popular person during the annual Herndon Middle School career day, where he receives many requests from kids to spend the day with him to learn the role of a community forester.
Dudzinsky has a bachelor of science in forest science from Penn State University. His family consists of wife, Robin Dudzinsky; son, Anton, 14, a freshman at Herndon High School and daughter, Genevieve, 13, an eighth-grader at Herndon Middle School.