N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher volunteer Rusty Burrow recently received the organization’s top volunteer honor. Burrow was named 2017 Volunteer of the Year at the aquarium’s annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Dinner.

Burrow volunteered 251 hours in a variety of areas including special events, outreach and education, according to a news release. Visitors to the aquarium – one of three state aquariums administered by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources – could often see Burrow lending his time at popular annual events, including “Trick or Treat Under the Sea” and “Santa by the Sea.”