Nomination Deadline: Thursday, November 14 at 5 p.m. The following awards will be presented Friday, January 24, 2025, during the All-Conference Awards Luncheon at the annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference: Rising Star, Honored Professional, Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service, Commissioner of the Year.

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Nomination Process: All nominations must include a typed biography of contributions and accomplishments not to exceed 750 words. Nominations must also include a condensed summary of the nomination, not to exceed 200 words. This condensed summary is how you would present highlights of your nominee’s accomplishments to an audience. Nominations must also include a photo of the nominee attached as a .jpg , .tiff or .eps file (at least 300 dpi). Nominations may also include supportive materials (not to exceed 5 pages or 5 attachments) such as newspaper clippings, additional photos of nominee, etc. All nomination materials must be submitted via e-mail to IAPD Director of Public Relations & Membership Engagement, Bobbie Jo Hill. The typed biography of contributions and accomplishments and the condensed summary must be formatted as follows:

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• Times New Roman or Arial font

• 12-point font size

• Single spaced

• Saved as a .pdf​

 

Additionally, the following information should be centered at the top of the page:

• Agency name

• Nominee’s name

• Award nomination title

• Contact name, agency, phone number and e-mail address (of person submitting the nomination)

 

For general questions regarding the IAPD Awards and Recognition Program, please contact Bobbie Jo Hill at 217-970-7318 or bjhill@ILparks.org.

 

Rising Star Award (More Information)

2025 Rising Star Winner: Frank Saverino, Jr., Bloomingdale Park District

The Rising Star Award recognizes up-and-coming board members who have completed a minimum of one year, but not more than six years of service as a board member (equivalent to one elected term.) The recipient of the Rising Star Award will have demonstrated exemplary performance in duties and responsibilities as a board member. Criteria: The recipient must:

• Have completed a minimum of one year, but not more than six years of service as a board member (equivalent to one elected term).

• Be actively involved in the park district, forest preserve, conservation, recreation or special recreation agency and community including, but not limited to, service to residents and promotion of the benefits of park districts, forest preserves, conservation, and recreation agencies.

• Have performed additional significant or noteworthy projects demonstrating positive impact and dedication to the field of parks and recreation, which may include involvement in IAPD activities.

 

IAPD Honored Professional Award (More Information)

2025 Honored Professional Award Winner: Jay Lerner, Waukegan Park District 

The IAPD Honored Professional Award is presented to a park, recreation, forest preserve or conservation professional who has worked closely with citizens and the Illinois Association of Park Districts to improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois. Criteria: The recipient must:

• Have demonstrated remarkable talents in encouraging local board members to excel as citizen advocates in advancing the field of parks and recreation.

• Have worked above and beyond the call of duty to promote park districts, forest preserves, conservation and/or recreation agencies in their communities and throughout Illinois.

• Believe in the IAPD mission and have a history of supporting its endeavors. Examples include, but are not limited to, having assisted with the legislative process, served on IAPD/IPRA joint committees, acted as a speaker at IAPD programs, authored articles for IAPD publications, volunteered at IAPD events, or encouraged board member involvement in IAPD programs or services (i.e. Board Member Development Program, Friends of Illinois Parks, Park District Youth License Plate, etc.)

 

Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award (More Information)

2025 Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award Winner: Leslie Sgro, Springfield Park District

When asked how he wanted to be remembered, long-time park commissioner Mike Cassidy once said, “Doing something good for the community, contributing something for the future.” This annual award is presented to a commissioner whose volunteer service to his or her community emulates the vision and voluntary efforts demonstrated by Mike Cassidy to improve the quality of life for those in his community. Recipients of the Commissioner Community Service Award will have demonstrated the highest example of community service, personal integrity, and ingenuity. Criteria: The recipient must:

• Be an elected official and member of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

• Have demonstrated tireless assistance and leadership through contribution of time, services or volunteer efforts for the community he or she serves.

• Be known for fostering local partnerships and being involved with the success of community programs and organizations such as, but not limited to, civic, nonprofit, religious and educational.

About Mike Cassidy… Mike Cassidy spent more than 35 years as a commissioner of the Freeport Park District. During his years of involvement with the park and recreation field, he demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in support and promotion of park districts, forest preserves, conservation, and recreation agencies. He devoted much of his time to serving several terms on the board of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, working to advance parks, recreation, and conservation statewide. Cassidy was a hands-on, involved and deeply committed board member who had the outstanding quality of being a good listener. He maintained that his years with the park board were a pleasure and the most rewarding experience of his life. “It’s more than a service to the community,” Cassidy said. “It’s a service to yourself because if you really get into it, you’ll find that the joy of it is absolutely incomparable.”

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Commissioner of the Year Award (More Information)

2025 Commissioner of the Year Award Winner: Mike Reid, Skokie Park District

The recipient of the Commissioner of the Year Award will have shown outstanding qualities to support and promote parks, recreation, and conservation in his or her community, as well as throughout the state. Criteria: The recipient must:

• Be an elected official and member of IAPD.

• Have served a minimum of 6 years as a member of a local board.

• Demonstrate skills in dealing with people (public, media, legislators), a true desire to serve while accepting personal sacrifices, and the ability to stimulate community action while maintaining the highest integrity in ethics.

• Have helped to carry out the IAPD mission: “The IAPD is a non-profit service, research and education organization that serves park districts, forest preserves, conservation, and recreation agencies. The association advances these agencies, their citizen board members, and professional staff in their ability to provide outstanding park and recreation opportunities preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois.” This can be promoting IAPD through the legislative process, volunteering at IAPD events, serving as a lecturer or panel member at IAPD programs, or participating on an IAPD committee or its board of trustees.

 

Youth License Plate Award – Best Promotional Practices (More Information)

Any park district, forest preserve, conservation, recreation or special recreation agency that has shown insightful, creative ways to promote the Park District Youth License Plate through events, programs, etc. may apply for this award. (Example: “Flying 4 Kids” kite fly). The Youth License Plate Award will be presented at the IAPD Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference. E-mail application as a .pdf to IAPD Director of Public Relations & Membership Engagement, Bobbie Jo Hill no later than 5:00 pm on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Applications must be submitted as 1-3-page typed summaries of how the Park District Youth License Plate was promoted. Agencies give IAPD permission to reprint descriptions of license plate promotions.

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IAPD/IPRA Community Service Award (More Information)

Community Service Awards can be awarded for recognition of ongoing support, outstanding contributions of time, money, services, volunteer work or the advancement of parks and recreation. Honorees might include a non-member employee, a group, an organization, an individual, an elected official, governing body, local business, church, or school district. These awards can be ordered through IPRA for pick up at the Soaring to New Heights Conference.

We are thrilled to announce an important update to our Community Service Awards program that will allow us to celebrate and recognize the outstanding contributions of our community members more frequently.

Starting May 1st, 2024 our Community Service Awards will now be presented on a quarterly basis! This change from an annual to a quarterly schedule will help us keep the spirit of appreciation and recognition vibrant throughout the year.

Here’s what you need to know about the new quarterly awards schedule:

Registration and Orders Open: Starting from May 1st, you can submit orders for the awards here:

• Order Placement: Orders will be placed on the final day of each quarter-ensuring that your awards are timely and reflective of the recipients’ recent contributions.

• Direct Shipment: To streamline the process, all orders will be shipped directly to you. This change will help you distribute the awards conveniently and efficiently at your local celebrations or events.

• Why Order Through IPRA?: Take advantage of the bulk pricing we get from the vendors due to the number of awards we are able to order on behalf of all of our members.

Quarterly Order Deadlines:

•    Q1: March 31

•    Q2: June 30

•    Q3: September 30

•    Q4: December 31

Your agency can present the award to your recipient(s) on the local level.

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Board Member Development Program (More Information)

The IAPD Board Member Development Program gives recognition to local board members who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty through committee involvement, attendance at continuing educational opportunities and achievements at the local, state and national levels. Participation in the Board Member Development Program can garner numerous benefits including recognition from fellow colleagues, legislators, media, and the public. The program tracks accomplishments obtained during terms on your local board, useful during re-election. Any member of IAPD may join the Board Member Development Program for an annual fee of $20. Participants accumulate “Board Development Units” (BDUs) yearly from October 1 to September 30. Units earned after September 30 will go toward the following year. All members of the program will receive a participant lapel pin. Board Member Development Program participants (Distinctive and Master Levels) will be recognized at the IAPD Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, January 25 2024 at the IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference. Join Now! Board Member Development Program forms must be completed and sent to IAPD Director of Public Relations & Membership Engagement, Bobbie Jo Hill, no later than 5:00 pm on Thursday, November 6, 2025.