PEOPLE.

APPOINTMENTS

R.B. Thomas Jr. of Nokesville, Va., has been elected to succeed Herb Oliver as president of the executive committee of the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame. Other new appointments include Winky Blackman, Marietta, Ga., secretary-treasurer; and Ridge Hooks, Spring, Texas, executive director.

As of Jan. 1, Martin G. Jakubowski assumed the position and responsibilities of superintendent for the Parks and Recreation Department in the city of Whiting (Ind.)

The Elmhurst Park District (Ill.) has announced Angela Ferrentino's promotion to program manager for district pools, gymnastics, inclusion, and athletic fields and facilities. The district has also appointed Mary Wagner program manager for Recreation Station, special events, camps, and teen programs. Additional appointments included Linda Blight, registration office manager; and Julie Bruns, human resource coordinator.

AWARDS

1998 NTRS Awards and Citations

1998 Distinguished Service Award

Julie Forker, CTRS, CLP is the manager of the Special Populations division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, in Prince George's County, Md. Her work at M-NCPPC has been exemplary, and she has played a leadership role in developing a model for inclusion within the countywide organization. She has held numerous leadership positions at the state and national levels. She served on the National Therapeutic Recreation Society Board of Directors as the Middle Atlantic regional director and as the Maryland State and Regional Advisory Council (SRAC) representative. Forker currently serves on the APRS/NTRS Joint Committee and is actively involved in the development of a National Recreation and Park Association inclusion school. In addition to her work with NTRS, she is actively involved with the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association's therapeutic recreation branch, and has served on numerous MRPA committees. She has received the Presidential Citation and the Practitioner of the Year Award from MRPA.

1998 Member of the Year Award

Angeline L. Anderson, CTRS, CLP is the director of recreation therapy at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. In 1996, she received the organization's Leading the Way Award, recognizing her projects to determine the efficacy of pet-facilitated therapy as a therapeutic intervention. Her work with NTRS and NRPA has been extensive. She is currently serving her second term as a practitioner-member of the NRPA/AALR Council on Accreditation. She has also served as the chairperson of the NTRS CARF Committee since 1992, and has done an exceptional job representing the therapeutic recreation profession with CARF-The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission.

1998 Student Research Award

Susan L. Hutchinson is a doctoral candidate and research assistant in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Georgia. She has presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium. Her research interests are focused in the areas of identity change, adjustment, and narrative reconstruction following the acquisition of a disability.

1998 New Professional of the Year Award

Gretchen Antonelli, CTRS is a senior therapeutic recreation specialist with Klingberg Family Centers Inc. in New Britain, Conn. She brings to her work a contagious enthusiasm, commitment, and compassion that knows no bounds. During her first year of employment she was nominated for employee of the year and also served as secretary of the professional staff organization. She has developed countless new programs that have enhanced the quality of life for the children and families that the agency serves. In addition to her work responsibilities, Antonelli is involved in teaching roles at several universities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, conducting workshops at state and regional conferences, and coordinating 10 educational sessions for the 1998 Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association conference.

In 1998, NRPA awarded its Fitness City Award to the Foothills Park and Recreation District (Colo.) for excellence in community fitness programming. The district was honored for its Active Options fitness program for seniors, which includes flee membership for breast cancer survivors. The award also lauded Foothills' Adventure Zone, a youth-wellness program that encourages positive lifestyle choices and educates youth on important health issues.

The Rhode Island Recreation and Park Association recently honored NRPA Chairman Eric W. O'Brien with its 1998 John "Jack" Cronin Award for outstanding service in the recreation profession.

Mayor Mary Lou Makepeace presented the 1998 NRPA KUDOS Award for Best Web Site Promoting Recreation (Class IV) to representatives of the Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Department, and the 1998 National Media Excellence Award to KRDO TV-13.