Bill Katzenberger (Leavenworth), Steve Snyder (Salina), John Knight (Shawnee County), Jalinda Blanding (Gardner) along with Sen. Laura Kelly and Sen. Vickie Schmidt headline the list of awards winners honored during the 2010 KRPA Conference and Trade Show. KRPA honors achievements and significant contributions to park and recreation in Kansas for individuals or organizations in 10 categories during its annual Awards Luncheon.The winners were selected from nominations submitted to the KRPA Awards Committee from members throughout the state.  The KRPA Executive Committee selects hall of fame recipients.

KRPA salutes its annual award winners below:

Hall of Fame Inductee
Bill Katzenberger, Director, Leavenworth Parks and Recreation Department
Bill served as director of the Leavenworth Parks and Recreation Department for 29 years and also served as Director in stops in Valparaiso, IN and Newton, KS.  Among some of Bills highlights include a term as the KRPA president from 1983-1984 and was also instrumental in the hiring of KRPA’s first Executive Director, Laura Kelly. 

Distinguished Fellow
Steve Snyder, Director, Salina Parks and Recreation Department
Steve is currently the Director of the Salina Parks and Recreation Department and has served in some capacity for the department for the last 35 years, the last 22 of which, as the director.  Steve has served KRPA as the treasurer from 1987-1988, as well as a term as our president from 1991-1992. 

Distinguished Professional
John Knight, Director, Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department
John is currently the Director for the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department and has been since 2000.  John has been in the field of parks and recreation for 22 years and has served on the Awards Committee from 1997-1999, as Secretary in 2000, he was the co-chair for the annual conference from 2004-2007, and is currently a member of the KRPA Board and chair of the Public Policy Committee.

Distinguished New Professional
Jalinda Blanding, Recreation Supervisor, Gardner Parks and Recreation Department 
Jalinda is currently in her fifth year as Recreation Supervisor for the Gardner Parks and Recreation Department,  where she runs the Gardner Aquatic Center which opened in 2007.  Jalinda is a Tomorrow’s Leaders graduate and she is a Professional Development Committee member. 

Legislative Award
Laura Kelly, Kansas State Senate
Laura, who served 18 years as executive director of KRPA, is the first recipient of the new Legislative Award.  She was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2004 and has been a strong advocate on behalf of parks and recreation, healthy lifestyle programs and a proponent of initiatives which have impacted legislation for young people.  She played a significant role in helping maintain the Alcohol Tax Funds for parks and recreation during the 2009 session.

Distinguished Elected Official
Vickie Schmidt, Kansas State Senate
Vickie has served the State of Kansas as a senator for the past four years and was instrumental in preserving Alcohol Tax funds for Parks and Recreation agencies in the current fiscal year.  She serves on numerous legislative committees, including as chair of the Ethics and Elections Committee.

Distinguished Volunteer
Mike Goodwin, Treasurer, Kansas Trails Council
Mike is currently the treasurer of the Kansas Trails Council, an organization that maintains more than 1500 miles of trails in Kansas.  In addition to coordinating volunteers, Mike has completed full color maps of all the trails in Kansas as well as having GPS mapped over 500 miles of trails in the state. 

Distinguished Service Award
Carolyn Unruh, Director, Camp Center Stage
Carolyn is currently the Founder and Director of Camp Center Stage, which is a six-week summer camp for kids ranging in ages from 3 years to freshmen in high school.  Over twenty years, 12,000 kids and 75 productions later, Camp Center Stage has, and will continue to meet that goal of providing kids a place to hone and build their singing and acting skills. 

Distinguished Board Member
Marvin Fisher, Board President, Maize Recreation Commission
Marvin is currently the Board Director of the Maize Recreation Commission.  Marvin has served the parks and recreation profession for the past 18 years, 8 years as a Wichita Parks and Recreation Board member and the past 10 with the Maize Recreation Commission, serving as president of their board since the inception of the Commission. 

Distinguished Public Service Award
Sean Cairns, Earthriders Trail Association (ERTA)
Sean Cairns and the Earthriders Trail Association represent a recreational trails advocacy group created to increase the quantity and quality of sustainable single track trails throughout the Midwest.  ERTA has contributed over 5000 hours of volunteer labor to the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, as well as the citizens of Johnson County, over the past 9 years.