To create wonderful opportunities for individual people through a design community.
In 2024, we created a new effort to recognize the unsung heroes in the local community — the people who lead by example, exhibit high work ethic and integrity, and lift their teams up through their actions and words.
Nominations open to residents of Washington County. A non-local selection panel reviews every application. Recipients receive a stainless-steel handcrafted dog tag with a copper star; the winner directs an underwritten donation to a nonprofit of their choosing.
Honorees for 2025:
Betty Wilson, Blue Bell Creameries, B’s Bling & More
Ella Dallmeyer, Faith Mission
Elle Steele, Alton Elementary
Gena Wilimitis, Miracle Farm Boys Ranch
Holly Johnson, Washington County
Jonathan Purvis, Burton High School
Robert Jensen*, Dozer and Field Services
Samantha Gaskamp, Germania
*One Honoree was selected as the Copper Star Award Winner, to receive a $1000 Community Donation underwritten by PlanNorth. The Award winner will gift the donation to the local nonprofit of their choice.
2026 Award Nominations are now open at https://www.plannorth.com/copper-star-award-nomination-form/. For a copy of the 2026 Nomination form, please email carlie@plannorth.com or stop by PlanNorth’s office at 107 S. Baylor Brenham, 77833, to pick up a copy.
Our culture is built on having fun, sharing what we know, treating projects like they were our own, giving back generously, and uniting people during a challenge. It’s what makes PlanNorth, PlanNorth.
Giving back, generously
The industry benchmark for architectural firms is a widely recognized goal of giving back 1% through in-kind services. PlanNorth’s average in-kind contributions to the community are more than double the industry goal.
How to Treat Top Performers Like Leaders.
Katie Burch’s TEDxBlinnCollege talk on the philosophy behind PlanNorth’s practice: elite-level industry expertise, one team member at a time.
To wrap up a vibrant summer of learning, PlanNorth interns led the way on a full-time community contribution effort during the last week of August. Masters-level, soon-to-be architecture graduates got to experience everything a professional architect does to kick off a project: meeting owners, identifying needs, creating a project plan, coordinating with local authorities, and designing concepts to satisfy each owner’s objectives.
Three recipients
1. Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church-The oldest African American church in Brenham.
2. Faith Mission-Serving the community’s most vulnerable neighbors.
3. The Yard- A small business and beloved local hotspot.
