Carol Sente and Bruce Robbins, commissioners of the Vernon Hills Park District, recently received awards from the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD). Bruce received the Master Board Member Award and Carol received the Distinctive Board Member Award.

Sente and Robbins received their honors through their involvement in the IAPD Board Member Development Program, which recognizes committee involvement, pursuit of board member educational opportunities, legislative advocacy, and achievements at the local, state and national levels in the field of parks, recreation and conservation.

“Master and Distinctive Board Members have gone above and beyond the call of duty as park commissioners,” said Peter Murphy, IAPD’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Master and Distinctive Board Members are highly involved at the local level, and they are outstanding proponents of enhancing the quality of life in Illinois through the services of park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies.”

Sente currently serves as the Park Board Vice President of the Vernon Hills Park District. She served on the Park Board in 2004-2009, and returned to the Park Board via appointment in 2020. She was re-elected to the Park Board in 2021. Robbins has been a Park Commissioner since 2009.

IAPD was established in 1928 and is the oldest state association for parks, recreation and conservation in America. The association serves more than 2,100 elected park, recreation and forest preserve district board members who govern more than 350 agencies employing 40,000 individuals.