Find Out Who Won Awards at This Year’s WWA Conference

From memorializing individuals' careers to recognizing spectacular projects, the World Waterpark Association bestowed many honors.

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Whitewater

Every year, at the World Waterpark Associatioin Symposium and Trade Show, the organization honors several individuals, organizations and companies for their service and impact on the water attractions industry, as well as to recognize specific waterparks.

These recipients were honored at the 2022 event, held in Las Vegas in October.

WWA Hall of Fame


In recognition of individuals who have made noteworthy achievements in the development and advancement of the water attractions industry. For individuals who have reached a position of eminence through contributions that have provided outstanding service, innovation, or advanced the WWA and/or water attractions industry.

Billy Hamilton
Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando

Patty Miller
WWA
Overland Park, Kan.

David Sangree
Hotel & Leisure Advisors
Cleveland

Al Turner Memorial Committment to Excellence Award


Awarded to individuals, parks or organizations that have, through their consistent business and professional excellence, provided leadership and/or fostered a sense of community in the WWA membership.

Ron Hood
Disney’s Water Parks
Orlando

Charlie Luecker
Lincoln Aquatics
Concord, Calif.

Joe Stefanyak
Ellis & Associates
Orlando

Executive Board Award


Awarded to an individual or organization for special accomplishments in the water leisure industry that have contributed to industry knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the WWA membership.

Evan Barnett
Pyek Group
Katy, Texas

Sohret Pakis
Polin Waterparks
Kocaeli, Turkey

Kelly Ogle Memorial Safety Award


Awarded to an individual or organization for significant contributions to guest and employee safety in the water attractions industry.

Wet ‘N Wild Waterworld and the Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso
El Paso, Texas

Chris Stuart Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program


Each year, one scholarship recipient is selected to come to the WWA Show at no cost to them.

Hannah Hickman
City of Denton
Denton, Texas

Leading Edge Award


Awarded to individuals or parks for creativity in the development of new themes, facilities, programs, sevices or operational concepts in the water attractions industry, and to suppliers who have developed new concepts, products or services to the benefit of park members, their customers and the water attractions industry.

For Baha Bay Waterpark
Baha Mar Resorts, Nassau, Bahamas
DTJ Design, Boulder, Colo.
Flowrider, San Diego
Murphy’s Waves, Glasgow, Scotland-UK
Proslide Technology, Ottawa, Ontario

For Wildwater
Cullman Parks, Recreation, and Sports Tourism, Cullman, Ala.
Aquatic Development Group, Cohoes, N.Y.
Proslide Technology, Ottawa, Ontario

For Aqua Nick
Karisma Resorts, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Grupo Lomas, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Paramount, New York
Life Floor, Minneapolis
Riverflow Pumps by Current Systems, Ventura, Calif.
Water Technology Inc., Beaver Dam, Wisc.
Whitewater, Vancouver, B.C.

For Water World Ocean Park
Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong
Proslide Technology, Ottaway, Ontario
Van Stone Conveyor, LaVerne, Calif.
Water Technology Inc., Beaver Dam, Wisc.
Whitewater, Vancouver, B.C.

For Water World at Vinwonders Nha Trang
Vimwonders, Nha Trang, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam
Polin Waterparks, Kocaeli, Turkey

For Wild Rivers Waterpark
Wild Rivers Waterpark, Irvine, Calif.
Aquatic Development Group, Cohoes, N.Y.
CMS Waterworks, Los Angeles
Whitewater, Vancouver, B.C.

About the Author

Rebecca Robledo

Rebecca Robledo is deputy editor of Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International. She is an award-winning trade journalist with more than 25 years experience reporting on and editing content for the pool, spa and aquatics industries. She specializes in technical, complex or detail-oriented subject matter with an emphasis in design and construction, as well as legal and regulatory issues. For this coverage and editing, she has received numerous awards, including four Jesse H. Neal Awards, considered by many to be the “Pulitzer Prize of Trade Journalism.”