KRPS Award Winners

In 2017, Kentucky Recreation and Park Society awards application and selection process were changed. The committee was selected by the KRPS Board member elected for that district. A new process modeled from other state park associations was implemented. The new process entails a cover sheet with award, nominee and nominator information, specific criteria details requiring clear and concise answers and corresponding rubrics for committee to grade said criteria. Supporting documentation was limited to 12 documents with at least 6 being photographs and the submission expectations were clearly lined out in the packet. Once nominations are received by the deadline, the committee meets, and each member individually grades each award using the corresponding rubric. The rubrics are averaged for a total score for each nomination and highest score is awarded as recipient. In any instance of a committee member’s department having a nomination, they do not sit in on that grading for that award category. Recipients and/or nominators are notified shortly after the grading process.

                                                             Award Categories
1. Presidential Citation: Recognizes an individual who has helped or been the most supportive to the President
during his/her term.
2. Dr. Alton Little scholarship: Awarded for a student majoring in Leisure Studies, Recreation and/or Park Curriculum.
3. The Special Citation Award: Recognizes individuals and private industry or agencies that have given outstanding help or aid in the field of recreation or leisure time pursuits. We have three recipients.
4. The Outstanding Public Official Award: Recognizes a current federal, state or local official who has contributed significantly to the benefit of parks, recreation, leisure services and open space programs.
5. The Communication Award: Recognizes entities and their involvement with publishing outstanding articles, programs, and coverage in the field of parks and recreation.
6. The David Lose Partnership Award: Presented to an agency, organization or individual that has developed and/or established a successful partnership or relationship to significantly help advance and impact the cause of the parks and recreation movement and whose dedication to the field parallels the same dedication and zeal towards parks, recreation and conservation that was exhibited by David Lose.
7. Facility Awards: Recognizes an indoor or outdoor facility that offers a unique enhancement to the quality of life in the field of recreation and leisure service within a community.
8. Young Professional Award: Recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to the profession.
9. Professional of the Year Award: Recognizes a practicing recreation professional for outstanding contributions to the profession with more than 5 years’ experience with distinctive leadership in the field and meritorious service to our profession.
10. The Hall of Fame: Reserved for any professional or special individual who has made outstanding, unique, lasting and extraordinary contributions to the parks and recreation progress in Kentucky.

Below are the winners from the 2018 Fall Conference held at Lake Barkley State Resort.

The Presidential Citation recognizes an individual who has helped or been the most supportive to the President during his/her term.

Angie Drury- Owensboro Parks & Recreation Team

Each year, the Dr. Alton Little scholarship is awarded for a student majoring in Leisure Studies, Recreation and/or Park Curriculum.

Trent Hurt is a graduate student studying recreation and park administration at Eastern Kentucky University. He has been a member of KRPS for 3 years and NRPA for 2 years. He is interested in pursuing aquatics and desires to learn as much about parks and recreation as he can to better serve his future employer. He is described as an extremely motivated individual who displays the work ethic of a professional on a daily basis. Congratulations Trent Hurt.

The Special Citation award recognizes individuals and private industry or agencies that have given outstanding help or aid in the field of recreation or leisure time pursuits. We have three recipients.

Mr. Fischer, a lifelong citizen, involved community member & businessman had a vision to build a park in Somerset and significantly helped this endeavor come to life. Fischer Fun Park was opened to the community in July. It is an all-inclusive playground providing children of all abilities a place to play together in a safe, fun and interactive environment. Congratulations Mr. Steve Fischer.

Kerri Barman serves on the CORE of Scottsville’s board. She volunteers countless hours at fundraisers and events and was paramount to the construction of the new Dumont Hill Recreation Park. Kerri has personally secured a significant amount of grant money for the CORE and has been a visionary from day one, 18 years ago, when the CORE opened. The CORE can always count on Kerri to lend an extra hand and always give her all.
The Perch Planning Committee is a large group of civic minded individuals who helped create a pocket park, The Perch. The committee started in July 2017 and worked tirelessly to fund-raise and recruit volunteers and contractors. They raised 75% of the funding while facing many obstacles and challenges. “The Perch” has changed the face of downtown Henderson by bringing public art into the downtown area. Congratulations Perch Planning Partnership.

The Outstanding Public Official award recognizes a current federal, state or local official who has contributed significantly to the benefit of parks, recreation, leisure services and open space programs. We have two recipients.

Mayor Girdler has led the City of Somerset for over 12 years. He is very recreation minded. As Mayor, he helped build two splash pads, reduced the fee to $10 per child for youth sports which significantly increased enrollments and installed numerous pocket parks throughout the city to increase accessibility to green space. He supported and matched a significant donation for the construction of Fischer Fun Park and is in the process of a 6-million-dollar expansion of the parks system. By providing these opportunities among many others, he has made Somerset a place where families want to live. Congratulations Mayor Eddie Girdler.

Judge Tribble has been serving Christian Country for 23 years. When Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation Department became solely a city entity, Judge Tribble, advocated for supplemental funding from the county. Judge Tribble showed great leadership by collaborating with the city to fund nearly $20 million in local projects including a 56,000 square foot sportsplex, 2.5-mile greenway trail addition, new neighborhood parks and more. He is also an advocate for the preservation of local watershed lakes. He sees and values quality of life efforts throughout Christian County. Congratulations Judge Steve Tribble.

The Communication Award recognizes entities and their involvement with publishing outstanding articles, programs, and coverage in the field of parks and recreation. We have two recipients.

WHOP NewsRadio has served the region of Christian County during the past 70 years and has spent equal time investing into its community. Where Hopkinsville Parks & Recreation is involved, WHOP has never shied away from becoming involved at levels large and small, frequently seeking ways to assist in providing opportunities to local citizens. WHOP goes above and beyond and works diligently to be a loyal and effective teammate to Hopkinsville Parks & Recreation. Congratulations WHOP NewsRadio.

Froggy K-Y Country is one of the most popular local country radio stations in central Kentucky. Froggy is profoundly involved with local organizations and is always ecstatic to attend park programs and events. Their partnership with Shelbyville/Shelby County Parks & Recreation has proven as an immeasurable asset. Froggy draws the crowds by finding sponsors for live broadcasts, offering giveaways at the events, on air and social media advertising, visits from Mr. Froggy and more. Congratulations Froggy K-Y Country.

The David Lose Partnership Award is presented to an agency, organization or individual that has developed and/or established a successful partnership or relationship to significantly help advance and impact the cause of the parks and recreation movement and whose dedication to the field parallels the same dedication and zeal towards parks, recreation and conservation that was exhibited by David Lose.

Brandstetter Carroll has been developing parks, facilities and master plans since they began in 1979 and a supporter of KRPS for many of those years. Pat Hoagland has been the face of Brandstetter Carroll for many years. Pat is always willing to be a presenter and exhibitor and can be found at the annual golf scramble. He goes beyond the vendor/member relationship and continues to keep Brandstetter Carroll involved because of his dedication and passion for how their mission overlaps with KRPS. Congratulations Pat Hoagland & Brandstetter Carroll

Facility Awards recognize an indoor or outdoor facility that offers a unique enhancement to the quality of life in the field of recreation and leisure service within a community.

In July 2017, the vision of the Agisilaou brothers became a reality with the ribbon cutting of Kentucky’s first official Outdoor Street Soccer Court in Legion Park in Owensboro. The brothers brought this vision to the City Commission in June 2016, secured a significant sponsorship and saw the project through completion. They brought a new sport to the city. On any given day, you can witness people of all ages playing and practicing. The court has also been reserved for a soccer camp, has hosted two large tournaments, initiated spring adult soccer leagues and has spun off an indoor soccer league to begin this winter. Congratulations Owensboro Parks & Recreation Outdoor Street Soccer Court.

Outstanding Program Awards are awarded for programs, activities or events that demonstrate and enhance the quality of life for the communities they serve.

The Summer Day Camp program directed by Tiffanie Vick of the CORE of Scottsville is essential for the youth of Allen County. It serves as an outlet and safe place for children and is also an extension of school. This 9-week summer program is carefully planned with criteria to challenge and stimulate learning of the large number of students participating. Tiffanie makes learning a fun by classifying each week as a different “learning” week. These students return ready to tackle the new school year, still stimulated from all the activities they participated in over the summer. Congratulations Summer Day Camp of the CORE.

The Outstanding Department award recognizes recreation departments or agencies who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in leisure services showing innovative programs and demonstrated outstanding achievement.

The Independence Parks & Recreation Department strives to live up to the city’s mission statement, which is “to become one of America’s most livable cities, relentless in the pursuit of outstanding quality of life for our citizen’s.” Their purpose is to develop and maintain the six city owned parks in a safe and aesthetically pleasing manner, create family friendly recreational programs and events and to use the budgeted tax dollars wisely and efficiently. Congratulations Independence Parks & Recreation.
Hopkinsville Parks & Recreation provides recreation and leisure opportunities for residents to improve physical and mental health through appreciation of, and participation in, indoor and outdoor events and activities – sports, leisure and quality of life offerings. Congratulations Hopkinsville Parks & Recreation.
Paducah Parks & Recreation strives to provide attainable and positive comprehensive recreation programs that enhance the quality of life for the residents of the City of Paducah as well as surrounding communities. Congratulations Paducah Parks & Recreation.

The Young Professional award recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to the profession.

We would like to recognize Mary Franey of Georgetown-Scott County Parks & Recreation. She is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and hopes to one day operate her own summer camp. Mary mentors her staff and seeks opportunities to promote the benefits of recreation throughout the community. She creates solutions to better her staff and better serve her coworkers and community. When an issue is brought to her attention, she does not rest until it is resolved. Congratulations Mary Franey.

The Professional of the year award recognizes a practicing recreation professional for outstanding contributions to the profession with more than 5 years’ experience with distinctive leadership in the field and meritorious service to our profession.

Dr. Michael Bradley instructs and guides future parks and recreation professionals at Eastern Kentucky University. He impacts parks and recreation in the areas of teaching, service, and dissemination of knowledge from his research and scholarship. His commitment to sharing knowledge is best highlighted in the ways he shares knowledge in various outlets. Dr. Bradley has experience in different capacities across multiple states in the profession. He is a member of 10 professional associations, reviewer for 8 publications and sits on numerous professional and academic committees within the professional associations. Congratulations Dr. Michael Bradley.

The Hall of Fame is reserved for any professional or special individual who has made outstanding, unique, lasting and extraordinary contributions to the parks and recreation progress in Kentucky. We have two inductees.

John Tierney was a fixture of Kentucky State Parks at Carter Caves State Resort Park for nearly 40 years as the park naturalist. He continually introduced innovative programming and special events for park visitors, designed trail maps & interpretive pamphlets, and even in retirement continues to program and coordinate for the International Road Scholar Program. Much of the programming he pioneered still influences programming across the state. Mr. Tierney has been a tireless supporter of parks and nurtured a love for parks and nature in visitors that he interacted with. Congratulations on your hall of fame induction, John Tierney.

Steve has dedicated 48 years of service to the parks and recreation industry in countless capacities. He has been a member of and held many positions in KRPS since 1970, is a legislative representative and basically built Frankfort Parks & Recreation to what it is today. He is a longtime advocate for local parks, served as the deputy commissioner for State Parks, helped start the Bluegrass State Games and has worked with or served on many organizations that support the mission of KRPS. His dynamic leadership throughout his career is nothing short of incredible. Congratulations on your hall of fame induction, Steve Brooks.