On Nov. 22 at the Connecticut Recreation & Parks Association’s (CRPA) annual conference at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Convention Center, William Bergeron of Old Saybrook was awarded the Teen Leadership Award. This award is handed out during the annual awards luncheon in front of roughly 200 P&R professionals and industry leaders as well as municipal and state leaders.

The award is given to any teenager who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of parks and recreation at the local level. Bergeron devoted more than 125 volunteer hours as a 7th and 8th grader with the Old Saybrook Parks & Recreation Department (OSPR). Through Bergeron’s dedication to the department and community, he was able to have a positive impact on a number of programs offered through OSPR. He was a two-year junior camp counselor for OSPR summer camp and a volunteer referee and score keeper for the OSPR youth basketball league, helped out at the annual Rock Hunt at Town Park and Halloween parties at the Rec. Center, and put in many hours through the various afterschool programs at the Goodwin Elementary School.

Bergeron, who is now a freshman at Old Saybrook Senior High, is still volunteering with OSPR while participating this fall as a member of the football team.