Awards
Nebraska Recreation & Park Association Award Guidelines
For information on awards contact Tracy Stratman @ tstratman@papillion.org. Awards are presented out our Annual State Conference. All nominations are due prior to the conference.
2024 Award Winners
New Professional Recreation: David Pratt
Benefits are Endless - Parks & Facilities Development: North Fork Whitewater Park & Johnson Park City of Norfolk
Benefits are Endless - Parks & Facilities Development: Gretna Crossing YMCA
Benefits are Endless - Recreation Programming: City of Omaha Whistle Ready
President’s Award: Tim Moran
President’s Award: Randy Nguyen
2023 Award Winners
Fellow Award: Jeremy Bachmann
Distinguished Service Award: Ryan Mohling & Cheree Folts
Outstanding Recreation Employee: Kiane Davidson
New Professional: PJ Evans
Park & Recreation Facility Development: Peyton Parker Lane Playground, York Ne.
Benefits are Endless Programming Award: City of Omaha, Lifeguard Competition
Past President: Ryan Mohling
FELLOW AWARD
The nominee shall have:
- been a member of NeRPA for a minimum of 5 years.
- worked in the recreation & park field a minimum of 10 years.
- held office in a state and/or national professional organization or performed important committee work.
- received broad acclaim from peers in excellence in one or more of the following: acquisition, design, construction, development, maintenance, administration, fund raising and financing, program development, public relations, leadership.
- brought recognition to the profession through leadership in other organizations.
NEW PROFESSIONAL AWARD
The nominee shall have:
- been a member of NeRPA for a minimum of 1 year.
- worked in the recreation & park field no more than 10 years.
- held office in a state and/or national professional organization or performed important committee
- received broad acclaim from peers in excellence in one or more of the following: acquisition, design, construction, development, maintenance, administration, fund raising and financing, program development, public relations, leadership.
- brought recognition to the profession through leadership in other organizations.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The nominee shall have:
- been a member of NeRPA for a minimum of 5 years.
- worked in the recreation & park field for a minimum of 10 years.
- received broad acclaim from peers in excellence in one or more of the following: acquisition, design, construction, development, maintenance, administration, fund raising and financing, program development, public relations, leadership.
LIFE MEMBER AWARD
The nominee shall have:
- been a member of NeRPA for a minimum of 5 years.
- reached the age of 60 and retired.
VOLUNTARY SERVICE (INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION)
The nominee shall have:
- volunteered service in or on behalf of recreation & parks for a minimum of 5 years.
- served on boards or with recreation & park organizations at the local, state or national level.
- worked actively on behalf of significant legislation at the local, state or national level.
- been a donor to recreation & park agencies, organizations or institutions.
- provided public service through efforts in related organizations, institutions or fields.
- demonstrated awareness & concern that each individual have an opportunity for enriched living through recreation & parks.
ARTS AND HUMANITIES AWARD
- This award is open to any leisure service agency in the state that is a member or whose director or superintendent is a member of both NRPA and NeRPA.
- In the event that a community has no leisure service agency but is offering an outstanding program in the arts & humanities, the program may be submitted by any leisure service agency, director or superintendent belonging to both NRPA and NeRPA.
- The program must have been conducted during the year immediately proceeding the year of the award.
OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL AWARD
The nominee shall have:
- been in the recreation, park or therapeutic field.
- been a member of NeRPA for a minimum of 3 years.
- made significant contributions to the recreation, park or therapeutic profession.
- shown and demonstrated professional growth.
BENEFITS ARE ENDLESS AWARD (INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION)
The nominee shall have:
- worked within or outside the recreation & park fields.
- provided service in or on behalf of recreation & parks at the local, state or national level.
- worked actively on behalf of significant legislation at the local, state or national level
- been a donor to recreation & park agencies, organizations or institutions.
- demonstrated awareness & concern that each individual have an opportunity for enriched living through recreation & parks.
BENEFITS ARE ENDLESS AWARDS
Recreation Programming Award
- Membership with NeRPA is not required but recommended.
- Staff from park and recreation departments and therapeutic recreation agencies submit a summary describing their outstanding recreation program along with no more than 10 color photographs or a brief video.
- Entries will be categorized by population. Class I: over 10, 000, Class II: under 10,000.
- Finalist will be asked, but not required, to briefly present their program during a session at the NeRPA State Conference.
- Program must have been conducted during the year immediately proceeding the year of the award.