Award Categories and Selection Criteria

Ernest T. Attwell Award

The highest yearly award that may be given to any Member or non-member.

Criteria: 

(1) Nominee must have been a member or actively engaged with the NRPEMS, NRPA, or local state association for (10) years.

(2) Must have displayed outstanding leadership through committee work (e.g., served on one or more committees for three (3) years or more) or through Board membership (e.g., during two or more consecutive terms have accepted responsibilities and performed services above and beyond accepted standards.) 

(3) Must have maintained high professional standards (e.g., through service and deed and has typified the meaning of a park and/or recreation professional.

(4) Nominee initiated and sponsored outstanding recreation and park programs at the local, state or national level for ten (10) or more years.

(5) Programs must be lasting in value and/or be an initial project that has served as the standard for other projects as the local, state, or national level.

Service Award

The second highest yearly award that may be given to any NRPEMS member.

Criteria: 

(1) Nominee must have held a NRPEMS membership for a minimum of three (3) years.

(2) Must have performed a service to the Society in an outstanding manner (e.g., committee work for more than three (3) years).

(3) Must have served one (1) term as a Board member and during that time have accepted responsibilities and performed services above and beyond accepted standards.

Achievement Award

Awarded to any current NRPEMS member for one (1) or more of the following criteria.

Criteria: 

(1) Nominee must have one of the following:

• Displayed innovative recreation programming

• Must have developed innovation play equipment

• Has had a special benefit to mankind, committees, the Society or the parks and recreation field.

Recognition Award

Given yearly to any firm, individual, or organization for one (1) or more of the following criteria. (membership not required)

Criteria: 

(1) Nominee made an outstanding contribution to parks and recreation in one of the below categories:

• Recognized publication/media regarding parks and/or recreation.

• Partnership that enhanced Parks and Recreation 

• Sponsorship that impacted Parks and Recreation

(2) Initiation and sponsorship of an outstanding recreation and park program at the local, state or national level for one (1) or more years.

Young Professional Award

35 years of age or less as of December 31 in the nominating year. (membership not required)

Criteria: 

(1) Must have more than (2) years of experience as a leader, instructor, supervisor, administrator, consultant, or a combination of these in the field of parks and recreation.

(2) Must have displayed distinctive leadership in promotion, organization and development of pioneer-type activity in the field of parks and recreation.

(3) Must have outstanding service to the profession through the allied fields of arts, crafts, sports, health and safety education, design, park maintenance, horticulture, education, consultation services, etc.. 

(4) Must have high recommendations and respect from the staff within the agency for which the nomination now works.

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