The National Recreation and Park Association’s awards program consists of the National Gold Medal Award (presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with NRPA), and the NRPA Awards which include the Innovation Awards, Spotlight Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships, and the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame.
NRPA Awards recipients are selected by the NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee, except for the NRPA Best in Innovation Award where the winner is determined by public vote. Each award has specific eligibility criteria. All applicants must be current NRPA members.
The nomination period for the 2024 NRPA Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships was January 5 - March 29. 2024 Winners (listed below) will be recognized at the Best of the Best Ceremony at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
NRPA Best in Innovation Award To Be Announced at the Best of the Best Ceremony at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia
Scholarships and Fellowships
Young Professional Fellowship Christopher Harrison, CPRP, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation (Florida) Miranda Maloy, CPRP, Lewisville Parks and Recreation (Texas) Cassandra Paddock, CPRP, Schertz Parks, Recreation and Community Services (Texas) Rachel Smith, CPRP, James City County Parks and Recreation (Virginia)
Diversity Scholarship Gaby Bridges, CPRP, Layton City Parks and Recreation (Utah) Nancy Xiong, Three Rivers Parks District (Minnesota)
Student Scholarship Ezekiel Adesawe, Clemson University Athena Sexton, Appalachian State University
2023 NRPA Award Winners
Spotlight Awards
National Distinguished Professional Award Janet Bartnik, CPRP, Deputy Director, Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, Prince William, Virginia
NRPA Best in Innovation Award Unity Park, City of Greenville Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Greenville, South Carolina
Scholarships and Fellowships
Young Professional Fellowship Haley Colucci, CPRP, Oak Brook Park District (Illinois) Diana Correa, CPRP, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation (North Carolina) Thamara Velasco, City of Douglasville Parks and Recreation (Georgia) Taylor Witter, CPRP, CPO, Lisle Park District (Illinois)
Diversity Scholarship Jamiah Flagg, City of Douglasville Parks and Recreation (Georgia)
Student Scholarship Jason Lewis Cowley, Utah Tech University Lindsey Batson, University of Missouri
Robert M. Artz Advocacy Award Ted Schoenborn, Bend Metro Park and Recreation District Board of Directors, Bend Park and Recreation District, Bend, Oregon
NRPA Best in Innovation Award Palos Preserves Urban Night Sky Place, Forest Preserves of Cook County, Cook County, Illinois
Scholarships and Fellowships
Young Professional Fellowship Jeff Achee, City of Harker Heights Parks & Recreation (Texas) Elena Christopher, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (Texas) Kate Connell, City of Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department (Iowa) Kate DeAngelis, Town of Lexington Recreation & Community Programs (Massachusetts)
Diversity Scholarship Jenny Doan, City of Columbus Recreation and Parks (Ohio) Olivia Salazar de Breaux, Olympia Parks Arts & Recreation Department (Washington)
Student Scholarship Gabrielle Andux, Appalachian State University Bryan Wyks, Radford University
Innovation in Social Equity Award Re-Connecting Cleveland: Pathways to Opportunity TIGER Grant Project, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio
Innovation in Park Design Award Westwood Hills Nature Center Interpretive Center Building Project, City of St. Louis Park, Operations and Recreation, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity Carol Zernial, senior vice president social responsibility and foundation executive director, WellMed Medical Management Inc.; San Antonio, Texas Daryl Quarles, manager, Senior Programs, Dallas Park and Recreation Department; Dallas, Texas
RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity Tina Fleming, community services director, and Lindsay Jorstad, outreach manager, Gwinnett County Government; Lawrenceville, Georgia
Young Professional Fellowship Jeremy Bajdaun, Town of Miami Lakes (Florida) Luke Bolinger, Town of Erie (Colorado) Sarah Hansen, City of Golden Valley (Minnesota) Elissa Malone, City of Frisco (Texas)
Diversity Scholarship Attiyya Atkins, Broward Couty (Florida) LaCleveia Morley, City of Miami (Florida)
Student Scholarship Kandice Newton, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Kristen Sikorsky, Kansas State University
Young Professional Fellowship Takeyra M. Collins, Virginia Wesleyan University Jill Ellison, Seattle Parks and Recreation Katy Keller, Indian Trail Parks and Recreation Hillary Roemersberger, Apex Park and Recreation District
Diversity Scholarship Ashley Jones, Norfolk Recreation, Parks and Open Space Nelson Musselman, City of Lewisville
Student Scholarship Heidi Weiler, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Jordan Sylvester, Texas Southern University
