Nomination Procedure
Nominating an individual for and MRPA Professional Award, Board and Commission and Special Award is an easy process. MRPA professional members who are nominated will receive a professional profile form to complete that will provide more information about their professional experience and MRPA involvement. The MRPA Professional Award recipients are honored during the Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon.

Award Categories

Dorothea Nelson Award: Individuals nominated must be a female who is a professional member of the MRPA with fifteen (15) years or less of professional experience. The selection of an individual professional member will be based on the outstanding services to the parks and recreation field and to the MRPA.
 
Jack Niles Award:  Individuals nominated must be a male who is a professional member of the MRPA with fifteen (15) years or less of professional experience. The selection of an individual professional member will be based on outstanding service to the parks and recreation field and to the MRPA.

Horizon Award: Individuals nominated must be a professional member of MRPA with eight years or less of professional experience. They must be an "up and coming" professional and an active contributor to MRPA and our profession who has great leadership skills.
 
Clifton E. French Distinguished Services Award: Individuals nominated may be either female or male and must be a professional member of the MRPA who has provided long and outstanding service to the parks and recreation field and to the MRPA.  This is the highest professional award given by the MRPA to one of its members.
 
Dr. Gerald B. Fitzgerald Award: Individuals nominated may be either male or female and must be an MRPA member who has attained a high achievement in research and/or journalistic contribution to the parks and recreation field.
 
Tommy Johnson Award: The Awards Committee will select one “Award of Excellence” project or initiative to receive the “Tommy Johnson Award.” The successful “Award of Excellence” project or initiative will best exemplify the characteristics and values that Tommy Johnson was known for; innovation, futuristic, revolutionary and/or creative with ideas and initiatives that help establish future trends, philosophical change, sharing of new resources and new exciting concepts.

Legislative Award: This award is intended to recognize legislators for “outstanding contributions at the state or federal level on behalf of Parks and Recreation.”