About
Awards
Theresa S. Brungardt Awards
The Theresa S. Brungardt Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association. This award was established in 1975 to recognize recreation pioneer, Theresa S. Brungardt. Mrs. Brungardt was Vermont's first state Director of Recreation and she traveled tirelessly throughout Vermont to help communities with their recreation programs. Mrs. Brungardt was nationally recognized for her expertise and in 1952 was elected the first female president of the American Recreation Society. In 1977 was inducted into the NRPA Hall of Fame.
Nominations are accepted each summer for Theresa S. Brungardt Awards in three categories: professional, friend, and organization/agency. Eligibility and criteria vary by category. The nomination deadline is August 15th each year. Nominations are reviewed by an Awards Committee consisting of the past professional Brungardt Award recipients who are still working in the field full-time.
Other VRPA Awards
The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association recognizes the importance of honoring certain of its recreation and park professional and volunteer members who have rendered outstanding service to this association and the profession, and established additional awards to do this. The nomination process for these awards has been simplified in hopes that more people will be nominated. To nominate someone, simply submit the person's name to VRPA. A form will then be sent to that person to complete. The Awards Committee will choose the winners and the awards will be presented each year at the VRPA Annual Meeting in May.
The Young Professional Award was introduced in 2005, to recognize professionals who have been working in the field in Vermont for a period of at least two years and no more than ten years. All nominees must be current members of VRPA. Click here for the award criteria and nomination form and a list of previous recipients of this award. The nomination deadline is March 15th.
The Facility of Merit Award will be given in 2007 for the first time, to recognize an outstanding and/or creative renovation or development of a recreation facility or amenity. Click here for the award criteria and nomination form and list of previous recipients of this award.
An Unsung Hero Award is planned for 2008.