Professional Award

This is the highest recognition that ARPA can bestow upon a deserving candidate. The person will be carefully chosen. In considering a candidate for the Professional Award, he/she must meet the qualifications as set forth in the criteria for this high award.

1977    Bill Creighton                       Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation

1978    Bob Robertson                    Anchorage Parks and Recreation

1982    Jill Waters                            Anchorage Parks and Recreation

1985    Loren Smith                         Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation

1986    Jim Hall                                Juneau Parks and Recreation

1987    Kayo McGillivray                  Kenai Parks and Recreation

1988    Sylvia Harvey                       Juneau Parks and Recreation

1989    Ian Fulp                                Kodiak Parks and Recreation

1991    Arnold Albrecht                    USDA Forest Service, Juneau

1992    Jim Dumont                         Juneau Parks and Recreation

1993    Dave Patterson                    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage

1994    Jack Mosby                         National Park Service, Anchorage

1995     Nancy Peterson                  Valdez Parks and Recreation

1996    Bill Musson                          Petersburg Parks and Recreation

1997    Bill Lindsey                          Anchorage Parks and Recreation

1998    Helen Clough                       U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Juneau

1999    Jeff Hawley                          Cordova Parks and Recreation

2000    John McCleary                     Anchorage Parks and Recreation

2001    Janie West                           Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation

2002    Karl Kassel                           Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation

2004    Karen Kester                        Nikiski

2006    Wendie Marriott                   Juneau Parks and Recreation

2007    Bob Gronchow                    Juneau

2009    Jeff Dick                               Anchorage

New Professional Award

(perviously Young Professional Award)

These professionals are not necessarily the superintendents or leaders that have been visible in the field, but are the “up and coming” leaders. They should possess all of those qualities and talents that will eventually place them in the top leadership, but at this time in their careers, they are climbing.

1979    John Alder                           Bethel

1981    Jane Boubel                        Ketchikan

1981    Kristine Moeller                   Seward

1982    Jim Hall                               Juneau

1982    Merilee Watts                      Anchorage

1983    Chuck Kaucic                      Fort Richardson

1984    Brenda Schimmeyer            Anchorage

1985    Steve Weber                        Valdez

1987    Kevin Finney                        Ketchikan

1988    Bill Musson                          Kenai

1989    Kim Kiefer                            Juneau

1990    Les Westenberg                   Tok

1991    Sharon Reed                        Anchorage

1992    Diane Fehring                       Anchorage

1993    Teri Peters                            Anchorage

1994    Karin Sturdy                         Seward

1995    Fred Hill                                Valdez

1996    Shareen Adelmann               Seward Parks and Recreation

1997    Rick Bittick                           Seward

1998    Myiia Whistler                       Juneau Parks and Recreation

1999    Lisa Deane                           Unalaska Parks and Recreation

2001    Ryan Zieak McFarland         Petersburg Parks and Recreation

2004    Jennifer McWilliams             Unalaska Parks and Recreation

2005    Mike Bork                             Valdez Parks and Recreation

2007    Jason Avery                          Faribanks Parks and Recreation

2009    Mike Illg                                Homer Community School

Bob Robertson Service Award

This award is for service to the Alaska Recreation and Park Association by members of the association. These are the people that volunteer to be on committees, to work with their sections, to help with conferences and workshops and generally are the backbone of the Association. This award was approved by the Board in 1995. Past recipients of the Bob Robertson Service Award include;

1995    Sharon Perrin                        Spenard Rec. Center Manager, Anchorage

1995    Jack Mosby                           National Park Service Sup., Anchorage

1996    Jeff Hawley                            Director of Parks and Recreation, Cordova

1997    Dave Patterson                      U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage

1997    Nancy Peterson                     Director of Parks and Recreation, Valdez

1998    Kim Kiefer                              Director of Parks and Recreation, Juneau

1999    Janie West                             Recreation Facility Supervisor, Fairbanks

1999    Arnold Albrecht                      Rec. Sup. USDA Forest Service, Juneau

2000    Jerry Walton                           Recreation Manager, Anchorage

2000    Karin Sturdy                           Parks and Recreation Director, Seward

2001    Ron Crenshaw                       Alaska State Parks Marine and Trails, Anchorage

2001    Warren Templin                     Mat-Su Borough Park and Recreation, Palmer

2002    Helen Clough                         Public Involvement Specialist U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Juneau

2002    Wendie Marriott                     Director of Parks, Culture, and Recreation, Unalaska

2003    Karen Kester                          Nikiski

2003    Bill Overbaugh                       Anchorage

2004    Marti Marshal                         Juneau

2004    Teri Peters                              Anchorage

2006    Myiia Whistler                         Juneau Parks and Recreation

2007    John McCleary                       Anchorage Parks and Recreation

Lifetime Achievement Award

2007    Nancy Peterson                      Valdez/Unalaska