Pay tribute to your fellow professionals, recognize meaningful service from your elected officials or contributions from your volunteers through the KRPA Awards Program.  The annual KRPA Awards Luncheon is a part of the KRPA Conference and Trade Show.  In addition to the awards listed below, also presented during the awards luncheon is the President's Citation, Branch Awards, the OK Kids Award and recognition of the Tomorrow's Leaders Class. 

Information on how you can nominate someone for the KRPA awards program is listed below.

 KRPA 2010 Award Nomination Form

Distinguished Fellow Award

A professional KRPA member who has 10 or more years of service in the park and recreation field and who has been responsible for outstanding and innovative park and/or recreation programming or service to the profession on a local and state or national level. This award may be given posthumously.

2010 Winner - Steve Snyder, Salina Parks and Recreation

Distinguished Professional Award

A professional KRPA member who has rendered outstanding service to the organization and the profession. This award shall be limited to hose persons having served a minimum of five years as a full-time employee in the park and recreation field.

2010 Winner - John Knight, Shawnee County Parks and Recreation

Distinguished Elected Official Award

An elected official at any government level, including local, state or federal, who has served at least one complete term of office and who has rendered service to any phase of the recreation and park movement at a local, state and/or national level.

2010 Winner - Sen. Vicki Schmidt (Kansas Senate, District 20)

Distinguished Legislative Service

A member of the Kansas Senate or House of Representatives who has demonstrated meaningful support of state-wide initiatives related to parks and recreation in the Kansas Legislature.  This award is selected by the KRPA Public Policy Chair, Executive Director, President, Past President and President-Elect.

2010 Winner - Sen. Laura Kelly (Kansas State Senate, District 18)

Distinguished Public Service Award

An organization which has provided outstanding service to the recreation, park and conservation movement at the local, state or national level. An organization is defined to include civic and fraternal groups as well as businesses, corporations, and other organizations not directly associated with the recreation and park profession. This definition does not exclude businesses dealing in services or products, which are recreation and park oriented.

2010 Winner - Sean Cairns (Earthriders Trail Association)

Distinguished Volunteer Award

A person who volunteers time and receives very little remuneration for their services to the recreation, park or conservation movement and who have rendered distinguished service to the organization and their profession.

2010 Winner - Mike Goodwin (Kansas Trails Council)

Distinguished New Professional

A KRPA member who has rendered outstanding service to any phase of the recreation and park profession on a local, state, or national level. This award shall be limited to those persons having served at least one year but not more than five years as a full time employee in the park and recreation field.

2010 - Jalinda Blanding (Gardner Parks and Recreation)

Special Service Award

Any full-time, nonprofessional employee with the park and recreation field who has rendered outstanding service. Recipients need not be KRPA members and it is the intent of this award to recognize dedicated employees in such areas as maintenance, clerical and other support-type positions. This award shall be limited to those persons having served a minimum of two years as a full-time employee in the park and recreation field.

2010 Winner - Not Awarded

Distinguished Board or Commission Member Award

An appointed board or commission member who has served at least one complete term of office and who has rendered distinguished service to any phase of the recreation and park movement at a local, state or national level.

2010 Winner - Marvin Fisher (Maize Recreation Commission)

Hall of Fame

Nominations for the Hall of Fame shall come from the general membership. Requirements: Service to the profession in the state of Kansas for a minimum of 20 years and as a KRPA member. Must be retired from the profession. Must be current or past member of NRPA. Professional nominees must have been professionally certified. Consideration will be give to hose whose service was prior to the establishment of the NRPA and KRPA certification plans. The following criteria - listed in priority - should be used in evaluation of nominees.

1. Professional involvement on local committees, boards, offices, conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.
2. Unique contributions to the field and profession in the areas of program, facilities, finance, legislation, special services, education, etc.
3. Professional involvement on the regional and national level, on committees, boards, offices, conferences, seminars, workshops, etch.
4. Professional honors and awards.
5. Education and continuing involvement.
6. Citizenship, special community involvement outside the field and profession; community recognition's, awards and accomplishments.

Hall of Fame nominees are selected by the KRPA Executive Committee

Deadline for nominations: TBA

2010 Inductee - Bill Katzenberger (Leavenworth Parks and Recreation)

Return Nomination Information To:

Connie Smith
Awards Committee Chair
Emporia Recreation Commission
313 W 4th
Emporia, KS
Phone: 620-340-6300
Fax: 620-340-6390

KRPA Awards Committee
Connie Smith, Emporia Recreation Commission
Betty Zeka, Hutchinson Recreation Commission
Steve Baysinger, Blue Valley Recreation Commission
Matt McClure, Gardner Parks and Recreation
John Washington, Garden City Recreation Commission
Troy Moree, Rosee Hill Recreation Commission
Therron Dieckmann, Ottawa Recreation Commission