Itasca Park District employee awarded for professionalism at IAPD/IPRA Conference
On Jan. 28, the Illinois Park & Recreation Association honored Erika Rubo, CPRP from the Itasca Park District, for her commitment and excellent service to parks, recreation, and conservation in Illinois.
Rubo was recognized during the IAPD/IPRA Awards Program at the IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
The IPRA Young Professional of the Year Award recognizes an up-and-coming leader in the field of parks and recreation and is given to an individual with less than eight years of experience, and someone who shows a great deal of promise in becoming a future leader in the field.
Rubo began her career over seven years ago, at the Butterfield Park District before finding her way to the Itasca Park District. Throughout her career she has overseen early childhood, aquatics, before & after school programs, day camp, dance, teens, seniors, trips and special events!
The last four years at the Itasca Park District, Rubo has taken things to a new level for residents. The youth dance and Inner Prestige Competitive Dance Troop have excelled, putting Itasca Park District in direct competition with national dance troops. Summer day camp has increased by 50%, with our Teen Traveling Camp being a fan favorite.
Rubo assisted the Itasca Park District as they coordinated over 13,500 COVID vaccinations from March through December.
In Rubo's spare time, she has been involved in the IPRA Facility Management Section - Aquatics Committee; and Recreation Section - Youth & Day Camp, Cultural Arts, Seniors Committees; serving as past co-chair of the Special Events Committee and current co-chair of the Teen Committee. She has presented at the IPRA/IAPD annual conference three times and wrote "75 Aquatics Ideas in 75 Minutes" for the Illinois Parks & Recreation Magazine.
"I congratulate Erika Rubo on receiving the IPRA Young Professional Award. She is already an impressive representative of IPRA and its members, and I look forward to seeing her future accomplishments," stated Barbara Arango, CAE, IPRA Executive Director.
A complete list of IPRA award winners is available on the IPRA website, ILipra.org.