Awards for Excellence
NEDSRA
is one of an elite group of SRAs receiving not once, but twice the National
Gold Medal Award for excellence in the management of recreation to individuals
with disabilities. The agency is also a proud recipient of numerous
National, State and local awards received for excellence and Innovation
in service. In addition to the agency awards listed here, NEDSRA's professional
staff has been recognized with more than fifteen awards for their involvement
and commitment to our profession and people with disabilities.
1979 - Recognized as the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section's Outstanding Agency in Illinois.
1982 - Awarded the prestigious National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management.
1989 - NEDSRA's Cabin Nature Program Center was recognized with the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section's "Excellence In Service" award, the Association's highest award.
1992 - NEDSRA and the Addison Park District received an "Award of Merit" from IPRA for the design and completion of the Centennial Complex.
1994 - Received the IPRA Innovative Program award for the initiation of "Kids Clinics" with the Chicago Wheelchair Bulls.
1995 - Received the IPRA Outstanding Program award for our Local Special Olympics Track and Field Meet.
1996 - Received the National Gold Medal Award from NRPA and the National Sporting Goods Association. In doing so, we joined a very small group who has received this honor twice in 20 years.
1997 - Received the IPRA Outstanding Event award for the Annual Summer Kickoff and Fishing Derby.
1997 - Received a "Best of Show" award for
an informational/PSA video on our Golf Marathon.
1998 - Received the prestigious Organization Citation
from the National Therapeutic Recreation Society in recognition of NEDSRA's
outstanding contributions to the field of therapeutic recreation.
1998 - Received the IPRA Outstanding Program award for our Unified Sports Program.
1999 - Received the IPRA Outstanding Program award for our Tandem Bike Ride program, and an IPRA “Best of Show” award for our logo design.
2000 - Received the IPRA Outstanding Program award for our Pet Therapy program.
2001 - Received two National Therapeutic Recreation Society’s “Jean Tague Innovative Program Awards” for Pet Therapy Program and PRO League Competitive Sports League for At-risk Teens.
2002 - Lonna Converso, Director of Public Information, received the IPRA Communication and Marketing Section's Commitment Award.
2004 - Susan Balling, Assistant to the Director, received the IPRA Adminstration and Finance Section's Distinguished Service Award
2005 - NEDSRA received the IPRA Outstanding Program award for our PRO League competitive sports program.
2005 - NEDSRA received the IPRA Best of Show award for our Web site and Design.
2005 - Ann Roytek, Manager of Inclusion and Support Staff, received the Director's Award from the Therapeutic Recreation Section of IPRA.
2006 - NEDSRA received the IPRA Outstanding Program ("On-going" category) for our EXCEL (Experiential Community Education and Leisure) program.
2006 - NEDSRA received the IPRA Outstanding Program ("Special Event" category) award for the "Reach for the Stars Night" recognition banquet, honoring NEDSRA's participants, full-time and part-time staff and volunteers for their accomplishments.
2006 - Jeena Greenwalt, Senior Manager, received the ITRS Special Recognition Award for the development and implementation of the Adventure ETC program.
2007 - NEDSRA was 3rd place winner in the Annual Report Content competition.
2007 - Director of Public Information Lonna Converso and Recreation Manager Ann Roytek were recognized for writing and submitting for publication "The Best of the Year" for the IPR Magazine.
2007 - Laura Christensen, Recreation Manager received the New Professional Award from ITRS for her outstanding efforts in the parks and recreation field.
2007- Susan Balling, Assistant to the Director, received the prestigious IPRA Fellow Award at the annual IPRA Conference. Susan has benn a great mentor to younger professionals and an outstanding leadership example for NEDSRA's professional staff.
2008 - NEDSRA received the IPRA Outstanding Program Award (On-going category) for our Special Olympics and Adaptive Golf Program.
2008 - Beth Corso, Senior Recreation Coordinator, received the ITRS Professional of the Year award.
2008 - Three NEDSRA staff received the IPRA Meritorious Service Award for contributions to the field: Lonna Converso, Director of Public Information; Jeena Greenwalt, Senior Recreation Manager; and Ann Roytek, Recreation Manager.
2008 - Two publications received state recognition in the Agency Showcase Communication and Marketing competition. The 2006-2007 Annual Service Report document received a first-place award and the NEDSRA NEWSFlash newsletter was honored with a third-place award.
2008 - Jeena Greenwalt, Senior Recreation Manager, was the recipient of the ITRS President's Award for her role as Tresurer in 2007 for the section.
1990 to present - Accreditation for Excellence in Loss Control and Safety from the Park District Risk Management Agency
