Click on the Details Button to Download an Award Application Form.

** Please note:  For the Elected Official Award, Partnership Award and Fellowship Award the person submitting the nomination must turn in support material on their nominee.  No form is needed.

* Click Here to see recent Award Winners

Award Criteria:

WPRA recognizes leaders in the State of Wisconsin with a variety of distinguished awards at their Annual Conference & Trade Show.  Professionals and organizations providing quality park and recreation services are eligible in numerous award categories.

 Professional Award of Merit

This is the highest professional award given by WPRA. The nominee must be a professionally certified member of the Association and actively involved in the field. Nominees are judged on specific accomplishments and service performed for the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association and the leisure services profession. Recipients of the Professional Award of Merit are not eligible for the George Wilson Service Award.

Guidelines in choosing The Professional Award of Merit:

• Group #1:
  WPRA Board Member
  WPRA Committee Chairperson
  National and Regional Officer
  WPRA Section Board Member
  Student Section Advisor
• Group #2:
  WPRA Committee Member
  Special Events and Activities
  Contributor of Articles to Professional Magazines
• Group #3:
  Professional Accomplishments and Job Performance

Honorary Fellowship Award (Individual)

This award is given to recognize persons (non-WPRA members) who have made outstanding achievements or contributions to the parks and recreation movement. The impact of their contribution should be of major significance to the local community or go beyond the local community.
 

George Wilson Service Award

This award is presented to current, or retired, certified professional members who have distinguished themselves through persistent accomplishment and continuous service to the Association. Service to the leisure services profession outside of WPRA will not count in selecting the recipient.

Nominees must have at least ten (10) years of continuous active membership and service to the Association, and hold State and/or National Certification in the field to qualify for this award. Retirees must have been certified while active. Recipients of the Professional Award of Merit are not eligible for the George Wilson Service Award.

Guidelines for selected The George Wilson  Service Award:

The person being nominated must have continuous service to WPRA in five (5) of the eight (8) categories, or in a single, long term responsibility to qualify as a candidate for this award.

• WPRA Officer (elected to Board or Section)
• WPRA Committee Chairperson
• WPRA Appointed Officer
• WPRA Student Advisor
• WPRA Committee Member
• WPRA Special Events and Activities
• Contributor to IMPACT, Leisure Line, other WPRA writings
• Other Professional Contributions and Accomplishments which highlight WPRA service, or identify the nominee as a WPRA member.

Lifetime Membership Award

This award is presented to retirees who have been a member of WPRA for a minimum of 10 years immediately prior to their retirement. Please inform us as soon as you make that big decision so that we can give proper recognition for your years of dedicated service to your job, profession and Association.

Service Recognition Award

These awards are presented to WPRA members at 10 and 25 years of service in the profession. Award recipients will be listed in the September PRMonthly. If you have any questions, call the WPRA Office.

Elected Official Award

The Elected Official Award honors our elected friends and supporters for their help and assistance in the leisure services field and encourage the future involvement of other elected officials.

Who is eligible: Any elected official at the state, county, or local level of government who has made an outstanding recent contribution to Parks, Recreation, or Therapeutic Recreation in Wisconsin. This could be a mayor, an alderman, a county executive, a state legislator, etc., who has gone "above and beyond" in their support of our services. Many members know just such a person.

How are they nominated: Any WPRA member may nominate an elected official by downloading and completing the nomination form  and returning it by the deadline of May l5th. Nominations returned after this date may be considered for the 2006 award. The committee will determine the recipient, with Board approval.

When is the award presented: The chosen recipient of the award will have the choice of receiving the award at a ceremony in their representative area (WPRA Representatives would present the award at the start of a meeting, at a local press conference, at a ribbon cutting, etc., to ensure the best local coverage) or at the WPRA Annual Conference at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Benefits Award

This award recognizes outstanding and creative benefit-related promotions and/or programming by a current member of WPRA. Entries are judged on the following criterion:

• Goals and objectives - What was the purpose or intent of the benefits related promotion/programming and was it obtained?
• Participation - Indicate the acceptance of the promotion/program.
• Efficiency/Affordability - Was the Benefits related promotion/program accomplished with a reasonable amount of finances, time and effort without consequences?
• Creativity/Adaptability - Was the promotion/program of original thought, could it be modified for a variety of settings?
• Entries should include a copy of any promotional material, pictures, brochures, posters, video, etc. that was utilized.

Award Winners