Each year at our WaterFire Volunteer Appreciation Party (VAP) awards are given to recognize the service, skills, and dedication of members of our volunteer corps across a variety of categories. Here is the WaterFire Volunteer Hall of Fame which includes all winners from previous years.
2023 – 2024 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Bob Malekoff — Rookie of the Year
- RI Energy, Michaela Crimmins — Team Impact Award
- Ron Archambault — Unsung Hero
- Duane Brouillette — Eternal Flame
- Tom Backman — John Nickerson Photo Award
- John Mongelli — 30 Years of Service
- Allan Redfern — 30 Years of Service
- Ihor Slabicky — 30 Years of Service
- Catherine Fortier-Barnes — Weekend Warrior*
- Wayne Barnes — Weekend Warrior
- John Boudreau — Weekend Warrior
- Mercedes Guzman-Contreras — Weekend Warrior
- Erika Hart — Weekend Warrior
- Michael Jedrey —Weekend Warrior
- Greg Krysko — Weekend Warrior
- Ken Panciera — Weekend Warrior
- William Ricci — Weekend Warrior
- Judy Silun — Weekend Warrior
- Marita Stapleton — Weekend Warrior
Thank you to our 2023-24 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Donors and Supporters
Archery Games PVD, Ballet RI, Blick Art Materials, Block Island Ferry, Celsius, Escape RI, Farshot, Fire Works Catering, Flatbread Pizza Co., Fogo De Chao, Gather Glass, The Great Escape, King Richards Faire, La Gondola, Level 99, Mass Escape, Moonshine Alley, New England Patriots, New Harvest Coffee, Old Sturbridge Village, Pranzi, Providence Bruins, Providence Children’s Museum, R1 Go Karting, RISD Museum, Rock Spot RI, Roger Williams Park Conservancy Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park Zoo, & Taste Buds Kitchen
* Weekend Warriors award recipients volunteered at all of the WaterFire Lightings in our 2023 event season.
2022 – 2023 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Diana Rochefort — Rookie of the Year
- Mercedes Guzman-Contreras — Rookie of the Year
- Anny Roberts (Bank of America) — Team Impact Award
- Mark Marino — Unsung Hero
- Russ Cooney — Eternal Flame
- Jan Bindas — Weekend Warrior
- Chris Maino — Weekend Warrior
- Mark Marino — Weekend Warrior
- John Nickerson — Weekend Warrior
- Joseph Shapiro — Lifetime Achievement
- Marita Stapleton — Lifetime Achievement
- Doris Briggs — Lifetime Achievement
- Don Cimini — Lifetime Achievement
- Pat Moriarty — Lifetime Achievement
- Barb Hudon — Lifetime Achievement
- Sheryl Watson — Lifetime Achievement
2021 – 2022 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Chris Steber — Role Model of the Year
- Doris Briggs — Infinity and Beyond
- Barb Gaviani — The Bright Star
- Duane Brouillette — Ambassador
- Ann McManus — Notable Newcomer
2020 – 2021 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Suzanne Burns — Social Butterfly
- Normand Family — Rockstar Rookie
- Erika Hart — Volunteer Valedictorian
2019 – 2020 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Erik Schmith — Rockstar Rookie
- Greg Krysko —Rockstar Rookie
- Citizens Bank — Team Impact Award
- Allison MacQueen — Dream Orb Queen
- Mark “Mad Dog” Madwed — Captain Marvelous
- Ihor Slahbicky — The Guest Boat Goat
- Mike and Kathy Webster — The Family in Black Who Have Our Back
- Henry Gomez Strike — Underdog
- Catherine Fortier-Barnes and Wayne Barnes — The Shore Things
- Bill Ricci — Music Master
- Jon Waugh — Recording Rockstar
- Erika Hart — Claim to Flame
2018 – 2019 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Doris Briggs — Customer Whisperer
- Ben Longtin — Rockstar Rookie
- Jan Bindas — Rockstar Rookie
- Alpha Phi Omega Omicron Lota Chapter — Team Impact Award
2017 – 2018 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Kou Nyan — All-Star Rookie
- Sean Holley — All-Star Rookie
- John Nickerson — Eternal Flame
- UNFI — Community Partner of the Year
2016 – 2017 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Chris Maino — Lifetime Achievement
- Bill Ricci — Lifetime Achievement
- Fern Rouleau — Lifetime Achievement
- Jess Knox — Rookie of the Year
- Braxton Mason — Rookie of the Year
- Dion Decoteau — Rookie of the Year
- Heather and Paul Bovenzi — Rookie of the Year
- Davies Tech — Community Partner
- Josh Jefferies — Eternal Flame
2015 – 2016 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Deb Mero — Rookie of the Year
- Ken Panciera — Rookie of the Year
- Ihor Slabicky — Lifetime Achievement
- Peter Van Erp — Lifetime Achievement
- Lisa Plummer — Community Partner
- Bill Volmer — Above and Beyond
- Denice Hicks — Perfect Attendance
- John Nickerson — Perfect Attendance
- Jon Waugh — Perfect Attendance
- Fern Rouleau — Perfect Attendance
- Peter Van Erp — Perfect Attendance
- Deb Mero — Perfect Attendance
2014 – 2015 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Jen Bonin — Rookie of the Year
- Jerry Suggs — Rookie of the Year
- Walter Powers — Above and Beyond
- David Dobrzynski — Eternal Flame
- Bill Ricci — Eternal Flame
- Marita Stapleton — Eternal Flame
- Gina Murray — Eternal Flame
- Richard “The Rev” Dannenfelser — Eternal Flame
- Mark Karas — Eternal Flame
- Wayne Barnes — Eternal Flame
- Catherine Fortier-Barnes — Eternal Flame
- John Nickerson — Eternal Flame
- Sheryl Mason — Eternal Flame
- John Mongelli — Lifetime Achievement
- Allan Redfern — Lifetime Achievement
2013 – 2014 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Michelle Bergeron — Rookie of the Year
- Joe Defaria — Rookie of the Year
- Rob Bryce — Unsung Hero
- Patti Heckman — Swiss Army Knife
- Paige Offen — Traveling Bandit
2012 – 2013 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Dawn Fox — Winner of Slogan/T-shirt Contest
- Chee Heng Yeong — Outstanding Volunteer
- David Dobrzynski — Outstanding Volunteer
- Carrie Capizzano — Outstanding Volunteer
- Rob Bryce — Outstanding Volunteer
- Richard Dannenfelser — Outstanding Volunteer
- Jeffrey Stolzberg — Outstanding Volunteer
- Sam Stolzberg — Outstanding Volunteer
- Sake Chan — Outstanding Volunteer
- Jeanine Palumbo — Outstanding Volunteer
- Peter Van Erp — Outstanding Volunteer
- Jane Carlson — Outstanding Volunteer
- Gina Murray — Outstanding Volunteer
- Patti Heckman — Outstanding Volunteer
- Erin X. Smithers — Outstanding Volunteer
- Jim Alves — Outstanding Volunteer
- Kathleen Sprague — Outstanding Volunteer
- Christine Maino — Outstanding Volunteer
- Bill Ricci — Outstanding Volunteer
- Rod Jarosz — Outstanding Volunteer
- Bob Costa — Outstanding Volunteer
2011 – 2012 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Carrie Capizzano — Winner of Slogan/T-shirt Contest
2010- 2011 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Russ Venditto — Winner of Slogan/T-shirt Contest
2009 – 2010 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Vikram Udeshi — Winner of Slogan/T-shirt Contest
2008 – 2009 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- No individual awards were given
2007 – 2008 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Jacob — Winner of Slogan/T-shirt Contest
2006 – 2007 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- John Mongelli — Volunteer of the Year
2005 – 2006 Volunteer Appreciation Party Award Winners
- Rod Jarosz — Volunteer of the Year
