Posted on Mar 13, 2026 | March,News,Press Releases
Louisiana’s Leaders Against Litter Receive National Awards and Recognition at Keep America Beautiful® National Summit
BATON ROUGE, La. – On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Keep America Beautiful® National Summit awards luncheon at the Mariott New Orleans, Louisiana’s leaders against litter were recognized for their commitment to keeping our Sportsman’s Paradise clean and beautiful. Winners included Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser representing the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Glenn Ledet, Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell, and Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful Director Ginger Tastet.
“Hosting the largest-ever Keep America Beautiful National Summit in New Orleans was a proud moment for Louisiana, and it was even more meaningful to see our state’s leaders recognized on the national stage,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Susan Russell and the staff of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, our staff at the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Secretary Glenn Ledet of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and Ginger Tastet with Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful are doing incredible work to protect and showcase Louisiana’s natural beauty. Their dedication to fighting litter and inspiring communities to take pride in our state is making a real difference, and I’m grateful for their leadership and commitment.”
The award ceremony was attended by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Keep America Beautiful® CEO Jennifer Lawson, and Greatest American Cleanup Co-Chair Lucinda Robb, whose grandmother, Lady Bird Johnson, continues to inspire the organization’s mission and work. In attendance at the awards luncheon were over 500 people from the Keep America Beautiful® Affiliate network, the largest attendance at the summit to date. From Louisiana, there was an impressive delegation of 82 individuals made up of Keep Louisiana Beautiful Community Affiliates, University Affiliates, and partners.
Award winners from Louisiana included:
State Agency Partnership Award
Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser received the State Agency Partnership Award on behalf of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism (DCRT). DCRT values, prioritizes, and understands that a clean and beautiful state is good for tourism, our economy, and the health and safety of its residents and visitors. Year-round, DCRT supports Keep Louisiana Beautiful and helps to amplify the organization’s work by weaving in litter prevention, education, and enforcement into the work of DCRT agencies including State Parks, Tourism, Cultural Development, State Museum, State Library, and Office of the Secretary.
Since coming under the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and DCRT, Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s impact has grown tremendously in all 64 parishes, and the Lt. Governor Nungesser has inspired a growing movement to clean up our Sportsman’s Paradise. Over the past few years, there have been many accomplishments to be proud of, including growing Love the Boot Week to over 1,400 in 2025. This year, as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Love the Boot is expected to be bigger than ever.
Lt. Governor Nungesser and the Louisiana legislature also helped Keep Louisiana Beautiful grow its grant program and bring much-needed funding and resources to local communities. Last year, over $1.1 million in grant funds were awarded for trash receptacles, recycling efforts, beautification projects, litter cleanups, litter prevention, litter enforcement, youth education, and other projects and programs in line with KLB’s mission.
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Secretary Glenn Ledet, Jr., received the State Agency Partnership Award on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). DOTD is a valuable partner, working not only with Keep Louisiana Beautiful, but multiple agencies, including local sheriffs’ offices, the Louisiana Department of Corrections, and volunteer groups to remove roadside litter.
DOTD is committed to keeping the state clean and beautiful through public-private partnership programs, waste tire removal, and litter-only contracts. In fiscal year 2024-25, DOTD removed 4,800 dump truck loads of litter from roadways.
To increase roadway litter removal, DOTD launched the Sponsor-a-Highway program, allowing businesses to sponsor a section of the interstate for sign placement. DOTD is also very active statewide in KLB’s Love the Boot Week, picking up more litter than any other group each year.
Innovation Award
Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful
Ginger Tastet, Director of Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful, received the Innovation Award for her community affiliate’s work in youth education. In collaboration with Tangipahoa Parish Government, Tastet visits local public and private schools four days a week, engaging approximately 600 students annually in litter education, utilizing Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s Rocksey’s Toolbox curriculum. Tastet’s lessons incorporate litter mapping, poster contests, hands-on activities, and field trips to the local landfill. To date, Tastet has reached over 5,600 students with litter education.
“Ginger Tastet has been the heart of the program, building relationships with schools, personally delivering the lessons, and inspiring students and adults to care for the environment,” said Cabell Mouton, KLB Community Engagement and Affiliate Services Director. “Her passion, persistence, and leadership have been key to the program’s success and continued growth across the parish.”
Sue Smith Professional Leadership Award
Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, was awarded the Sue Smith Professional Leadership Award. This prestigious award was awarded to Russell for her exceptional leadership and dedication to the mission of Keep America Beautiful, her implementation of innovative programs, and her contribution to national-level initiatives.
Russell first joined the Keep America Beautiful® Affiliate network as the Director of Keep Mandeville Beautiful, where she served her local community for eight years. In 2014, she became state Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful and now leads the only statewide initiative focused on litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. She oversees a grants program that has awarded over $8.5 million to fund local projects. She has developed environmental education lessons targeting students in grades K-5. And she supports a network of 58 Community, University, and Community College Affiliate organizations in their efforts to clean up and beautify Louisiana.
In 2021, Russell spearheaded the launch of Love the Boot Week, which has become the largest community improvement initiative in the state removing 514 tons and planting 1,200 trees with the help of 27,000 volunteers last year. In September 2026, Russell will launch Louisiana’s first-ever statewide waterway cleanup, Love Our Waterways. Both signature events aim to bring the people of Louisiana together to care for their environment and ensure our great state is clean and beautiful for future generations.
Susan is the fifth person in Louisiana to receive this prestigious award: Leigh Harris (KLB, 2010), Gwen Emick (KLB, 2002), Donna Curtis (Shreveport Green, 2001), and Betty Jones (Keep Cenla Beautiful, 1999).
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser congratulates Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell on her Sue Smith Professional Leadership Award. Pictured (from left to right) are Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser; Lucinda Robb, granddaughter of Lady Bird Johnson; Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director; Randy Russell; Grace Russell; and Jennifer Lawson, Keep America Beautiful® President & CEO. (Image credit: Keep Louisiana Beautiful)
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet accept State Agency Partnership Awards at the Keep America Beautiful Summit. Pictured (left to right) are Todd Donmyer, DOTD Assistant Secretary of Operations; Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser; and Glenn Ledet, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. (Image credit: Keep Louisiana Beautiful)
Louisiana leaders against litter at the 2026 Keep America Beautiful® Summit in New Orleans on February 26, 2026. Pictured (left to right) are Glenn Ledet, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development; Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser; Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director; Ginger Tastet, Director of Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful; Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller; and Carla Tate, Tangipahoa Tourism President & CEO. (Image credit: Keep Louisiana Beautiful)
Tangipahoa leaders at the 2026 Keep America Beautiful® Summit in New Orleans on February 26, 2026. Pictured (left to right) are Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller; Nathan Diamond, Tangipahoa Parish Director of Code Enforcement/Litter Coordinator; Lucinda Robb, granddaughter of Lady Bird Johnson; Jennifer Lawson, Keep America Beautiful® President & CEO; and Ginger Tastet, Director of Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful. (Image credit: Keep Louisiana Beautiful)
