The NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 NRPA National Awards, Diversity Scholarship, Student Scholarship and Young Professional Fellowship. Please join NRPA in congratulating the 2015 recipients!
National Awards
NRPA’s National Awards recognize the inspirational people and outstanding programs that highlight the phenomenal work being done in the field of parks and recreation. The award recipients will be acknowledged September 17 at the Best of the Best Ceremony, during the 2015 NRPA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 2015 National Award Winners:
Robert M. Artz Citizen Advocacy
Dave Anderson, City of Elk River, Minnesota
Robert W. Crawford Young Professional
Atuya O. Cornwell, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland
Excellence in Inclusion Award
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland
Excellence in Innovative Programming
Frederick County Parks and Recreation, Maryland
Facility or Park Design
City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department, Florida
Barb King Environmental Stewardship
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Indiana
Kudos Marketing
Milwaukee Recreation and Community Services, Wisconsin
National Distinguished Professional Award
Christopher M. Nunes, Ph.D., CPRE, The Woodlands Township, Texas
National Partnership
City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation, Georgia
Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research
Daniel R. Williams, USDA Forest Service, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Fellowship and Scholarship Program
The Fellowship and Scholarship program’s primary focus is to inspire future participation and leadership in NRPA and to develop professional contacts with NRPA leadership. These programs provide selected recipients with a leadership mentor as they explore the operation of the NRPA Annual Conference.
The Diversity Scholarship recognizes individuals from historically underrepresented groups in the park and recreation community, as well as those who demonstrate outstanding contributions serving diverse communities.
The 2015 Diversity Scholarship recipients:
Megan Nakashima Arvidson, Town of Parker, Colorado
Lakita S. Watson, Suffolk Parks and Recreation, Virginia
The Student Scholarship is presented to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student in recognition of continuous extraordinary community service or contributions to the field.
The 2015 Student Scholarship recipients:
Victoria Rose Burgos, University of Mississippi
Brandon Harris, Clemson University
The Young Professional Fellowship recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of parks and recreation during their first years in the profession.
The 2015 Young Professional Fellowship recipients:
Ashley M. Green, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland
Gerry M. Logan, Jr., College Station Parks and Recreation, Texas
John W. Strutzman, Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Minnesota
Jason M. Tryon, Town of Indian Trail, North Carolina
Brenda Beales is NRPA’s Awards and Accreditation Manager.