Will McElfresh was an original founding member of the Invitational and served the Invitational tirelessly for many years. Will was an Extension Forestry Specialist at Virginia Tech with an emphasis on 4-H and Youth programming. He was instrumental in developing the Tree Identification contest and was the curator of the original Invitational tree specimen collection that has evolved over the years. Will made the Tree ID portion outstanding and carried the kids into the top 1% in the nation in knowing how to identify trees. As an aside, Will was a walking encyclopedia on just about any topic one would care to discuss.

The Will McElfresh Award recognizes the Invitational competitor who scores the highest point total in the individual contest events.

• 2023 - Elizabeth Bruner - PA
• 2022 - Karolina Heathcock - MS
• 2021 - Luke Arrowood - NC and Gabriel Craven - GA
• 2019 - Braden Harrod - AR
• 2018 - Ethan Rankins - AL
• 2017 - Samantha Clanton - AR
• 2016 - Kyle Weiner - TN
• 2015 - Julia Palacios - TN
• 2014 - Lisa Barron - AL
• 2013 - Seth Junkin - AL
• 2012 - Michael Crenshaw - TN
• 2011 - Brittany Evans - GA
• 2010 - Megan Farmer - LA
• 2009 - Forrest Ford - AL
• 2008 - Steve Franklin - AL
• 2007 - Chris Francis - IL
• 2006 - Elizabeth Shiley - IL
• 2005 - Samuel Cordner - AL
• 2004 - Ben Gasser - AL
• 2003 - Holly Cordner - AL
• 2002 - Lisa Shaw - AL
• 2001 - (tie) Connor Lawrence - IL
  and Jimmy Williams - AL
• 2000 - Pebbles Fulford - FL
• 1999 - Michael Tilley - AR
• 1998 - (tie) Clinton Morris - WV
  and John Goff - AL
• 1997 - Jeremy Ramsey - AL
• 1996 - Justin Angel - IL
• 1995 - Jerry Hinnen - AL
• 1994 - Karen Stasncil - FL
• 1993 - James Russell - AR
• 1992 - Alec Mathis - GA
• 1991 - Kirk Miller - AL
• 1990 - Dennis Kuykendall - AR
• 1989 - Lee Cole - TN
• 1988 - Nancy Graybeal - TN
• 1987 - Carol Shaw - AL
• 1986 - Doug Dyer - LA
• 1985 - Tom White - TN
• 1984 - Tim Hughes - GA
• 1983 - Stuart Gauthier - LA
• 1982 - Emile Gardiner - LA
• 1981 - Blair Smith - VA
• 1980 - Sandra Foss - MA