Chester and Phyllis Briggs of Newton are two of this year’s national recipients of the Enduring Service Volunteer Award.

They received their national award after 19 years of dedicated service at Lake Red Rock. The Briggs received their award this past Thursday at ceremony in Bass Pro Shops in Altoona. Chester and Phyllis Briggs have logged over 9,300 hours of volunteer service at Lake Red Rock, where they have worked seasonally since 1998. Chester and Phyllis manage a bird habitat restoration program which was initiated in 1979 to address a dramatic decline in bird populations by constructing and maintaining nest boxes. The Briggs have also made significant contributions to the interpretation and outreach programs at Lake Red Rock by sharing their knowledge of birds with visitors. Under the Briggs’ guidance, Lake Red Rock’s nest box program has grown to include a trail of 113 bluebird boxes and 4 purple martin colonies which contributed to the fledging of 3,412 bluebirds, 2,172 tree swallows, 825 purple martins and 304 chickadees.