With a career spanning decades in the parks and recreation industry, Fred Tamagawa emerged as a distinguished leader in our profession and has left an unparalleled impact on our Utah Recreation and Parks Association (URPA)! Holding various board positions, Fred served as the URPA Executive Secretary from 1983 to 1991, followed by a 12-year tenure as URPA Executive Treasurer from 1991 - 2003, culminating in a term as URPA President 2004 to 2005. Much of our association's direction, vision and financial sustainability can be attributed to Fred and his efforts.

As a reflection of his dedication to the association Fred received the 1994 Service to URPA Award and in 2007 was bestowed a URPA Lifetime Achievement Award. Recognizing the importance of continuous professional development, Fred consistently advocated for professionals to have access and funding for training and education. This conviction led to the establishment of the Fred and Judy Tamagawa Professional Development Scholarship in 2013. The scholarship, funded through our annual scholarship auctions, pays tribute to Fred and Judy's unwavering commitment to our profession.

Throughout Fred's 25+ years of service on the URPA Board of Directors, Judy has always been his ally and "right hand person". Her active participation in conferences, volunteer work at check-ins, support of scholarship auctions and her friendship with countless parks and recreation professionals has solidified her status as an invaluable friend to the community. This Scholarship was founded in 2012.

Steve Carpenter enjoyed a 23 year tenure with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, specifically in the Parks and Recreation Division, where he held multifaceted roles as a comprehensive planner, administrative assistant to the Director and Park Manager. Throughout his career, Steve garnered accolades including the 1996 URPA Service to the Profession Award and the 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award, underscoring his significant contributions to the field. Following his distinguished service, Steve took a one-year break before assuming the role of URPA Executive Director.

For an impressive 12 years, Steve led URPA with unwavering commitment until his retirement in July 2011. Steve's legacy as Executive Director was highlighted by his tenacious advocacy for our profession. Attending national meetings, working with local, state and federal leaders and networking with peers from around the nation, Steve's impactful leadership continues to serve as a lasting model for effecting positive change within our profession.

Ever by his side, Steve's wife Georgia has been a constant companion, contributing significantly to the fabric of all things URPA. In 2013 the URPA Board of Directors developed the Steve and Georgia Carpenter Professional Development Scholarship to encourage others to be stewards of our profession and positive role models to others. This Scholarship was founded in 2012.

In honor of Nancy Day's remarkable 37+year career in parks and recreation, her husband Joe's influence and inspiration during that career and her impactful and ongoing leadership to URPA, a new professional development scholarship has been developed in the names of Nancy and Joe Day.

Beginning her career in campus recreation at the University of Utah, Nancy's influence expanded through roles at Salt Lake County and Cottonwood Heights before becoming the Director of Parks and Recreation for West Valley City. Throughout her career Nancy has been recognized for her collaborative leadership style, advocacy and outreach for ALL community members, Veterans' programming and mentoring countless numbers of professionals throughout the state.

URPA has benefitted immensely from her service to our association. Serving on the URPA Board of Directors numerous times in various positions, Nancy was URPA President 2013-2014, received the Outstanding Executive Professional in 2016 and was very influential in the establishment and development of UPRA's Leadership Academy. She has been a part of the Leadership Academy Committee since its inception and has served for several years as the chair of that committee. This scholarship was founded in 2024 and serves as a fitting tribute to a leader whose legacy inspires parks and recreation professionals.

Continuing Education is an essential part of personal growth and leadership within any organization. Supporting the pursuit of professional development is a keystone in the core values at Great Western Recreation. Our founding member, Rich Boyce was a professor at Utah State University and his successor Steve Kyriopoulos was a Parks and Recreation professional who earned his degree from Utah State University, always placed high value continuing education.

We are honored to continue to support Parks & Recreation Professionals in their desire to learn through the Great Western Recreation Professional Scholarship.

In 2021, the URPA Board of Directors made a pivotal decision to formally designate a new scholarship named the Michael J. Peterson Learn and Lead Scholarship. This decision was reached in recognition of Mike Peterson's remarkable 50+ years of dedicated contributions to the field of parks and recreation within the state of Utah, a legacy that has left an indelible mark on his professional peers.

Mike's profound impact extends well beyond the confines of his immediate community, county, and state. Beginning his career as a young professional in the Parks and Recreation Department of Salt Lake County, he subsequently ascended through various leadership roles, including Deputy Director of Salt Lake County Aging Services, Associate Division Director for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Division Director for Hansen Planetarium, and Director of Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services. In addition, his jump into the political arena saw him elected to the Board of Trustees for the Cottonwood Heights Parks and Recreation Service Area during his tenure with Salt Lake County. Following retirement, he assumed the role of Director for the Cottonwood Heights Parks and Recreation Service Area and later served as the Mayor of Cottonwood Heights.

Mike Peterson's influence not only resonates on the regional and national levels but also within URPA. Having held various positions on the URPA Board of Directors, including the presidency from 1992 to 1993 and the role of NRPA Southwest Regional Representative, his leadership and extensive network have significantly enriched our organization. In 2013 Mike was honored as the URPA Outstanding Executive Professional and in 2015 was honored with a URPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mike Peterson stands as a true leader, a mentor to numerous professionals, and an inspiration to the entire parks and recreation profession. His unwavering commitment to service and his dedication to enhancing our communities has been evident throughout his career. As a staunch advocate for education and continuous learning, Mike Peterson has consistently promoted education, being a life-long learner and using knowledge for the greater good. The unique Michael J. Peterson Learn and Lead Scholarship reflects these values by providing financial support to professionals seeking to make a lasting impact on the parks and recreation profession in Utah. Recipients of this esteemed award are expected to actively participate in training and meetings, subsequently leveraging their acquired knowledge to benefit URPA.