Neptune Recreation Director Dawn Thompson was recently honored with the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association’s Michael B. Berman Award for administrative excellence.
The award recognizes a long-serving recreation professional who makes significant contributions to their local recreation department while serving in volunteer leadership positions at the state and national levels as well.
Thompson’s 32 years of involvement with NJRPA include chairing several committees, serving on the NJRPA Board of Trustees for over 20 years, and serving as NJRPA President twice. She is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional through the National Recreation and Park Association, where she continues to volunteer as well.
She said she is “humbled to receive the most prestigious award that NJRPA presents, and blessed to work and volunteer alongside so many dedicated recreation professionals!”
Thompson’s recreation career has included working at Shawnee-on-Delaware, Outdoor World Campgrounds, Cunard Cruise Line, Rutgers University, Somerset County Park Commission, Kean University, and Neptune Township Recreation.
The award was presented at NJRPA’s annual educational conference in Atlantic City in March.