For his work as superintendent of the town’s Recreation Department, Sam White recently earned a place on the National Recreation and Parks Association’s “30 Under 30” list.

“It’s definitely a great honor,” White said, who just finished his first year as superintendent. “I was kind of caught off guard … I was nominated by someone, but I don’t know who it was.”

By the way, White was the only honoree from New England.

In the association’s Parks and Recreation magazine article honoring the “30 Under 30,” White was cited for his leadership in the design and construction of the new Hawes swimming pool in South Norwood. “Working closely with two design firms, he played a key role in ensuring this project not only met technical and budget expectations, but also reflected the needs of Norwood residents. This facility represents the city’s future and stands as a symbol of what can be achieved when community and leadership come together.”

The pool will have a grand opening ceremony in June.

In addition to the prestigious citation, White will have the opportunity to take part in the association’s annual conference this October in Philadelphia. He said he could take part in a podcast, write an article for the association’s magazine, or stage a presentation at the conference.

“Sam White is an excellent fit as Norwood’s Recreation Director, and we adore working with him.” said the town’s General Manager, Tony Mazzucco, and the Assistant General Manager, Michael Rosen, in a joint statement. “In his short time as Director, he has overseen the reopening of Hawes Pool, the building and opening of the Tyler J. Lawrence Memorial Park at the Norwood Airport, and several successful Norwood Days and special events.”

Born and raised in Vermont, White did not discover his interest in recreation until he attended Lasell College (now University) in Newton.

“I was very active [growing up in Vermont], but at Lasell, I discovered that recreation is a career path,” White said. “It was a perfect path for me.”

White earned his degree from Lasell in 2019, then headed back to Vermont to obtain his master’s degree from Castleton University. In December 2021, he moved to Norwood and joined the Recreation Department as a program coordinator. He became assistant superintendent in 2023, then superintendent in January, 2025.

White currently oversees four full-time personnel, including Program Coordinator Marie Duffy-Kind, Recreation Administrator Howard Weinstein, and Administrative Assistant Allison Penza. In addition, the department will hire up to 100 seasonal employees to assist in running the dozens of programs offered by the department.

Penza credited White’s ability to form relationships as key to running a successful department.

“He’s really created a team atmosphere, which is great,” Penza said. “Sam’s great at forming relationships, at building a great foundation with the community.”

In addition to seasonal programs, the department also oversees Norwood Day, the summer concert series, extended day and cooking programs, and more.

“It feels really good to be part of the community,” said White. “We do a lot.”

“Sam is a true asset for the Norwood community, and we’re very proud of his accomplishing the “30 under 30” designation,” Mazzucco and Rosen said. “We are fortunate to know and work with Sam, and we hope to do so for many years to come.”

The spring-summer brochure is now available on the department’s website. For information on the Recreation Department, visit https://www.norwoodma.gov/departments/recreation/about_the_recreation_dept.php, or its Facebook page.