Awards
REALTOR® of the Year Award
The REALTOR® of the Year award is given to a member who has contributed the most to the advancement of his/her community and the cause of REALTORS® and has exemplified significant involvement in humanitarian services.
Congratulations to our 2025 REALTOR® of the Year
Diane Traverso
NextHome Nexus Realty Group
Diane Traverso earned her Salesperson’s License in 1987 and has been a full-time real estate professional since 1996. She became a licensed Real Estate Broker in 2000 and holds several NAR designations, including:
- Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR)
- Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
- Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI)
- C2EX Endorsed
Diane has received the New Jersey Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award® every year since 1998. She currently serves as the 2024–2025 President of the Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors® and has held multiple leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels, including:
- 2022–2023 First Vice President, Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors®
- 2020–2024 NJ State RPAC Trustee
- 2021–2025 Director, National Association of Realtors®
- 2020 State President, Women’s Council of Realtors® – NJ
- 2017–2018 President, NJ/DE Council of Residential Specialists
- 2012–2013 President, Monmouth County Women’s Council
She is an RPAC Major Investor – President’s Circle and a Notary Public. Diane’s ongoing involvement in industry organizations and her long-standing record of achievement reflect a career dedicated to professional development, advocacy, and service.
New Jersey REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Sales Award®
This prestigious program comprises two awards: The NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence® Sales Award® and the NJ REALTORS® Distinguished Sales Club.
The NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence® Sales Award® recognizes those members who have demonstrated excellence in the field of salesmanship.
Verification/Proof Materials
All verification and proof materials must be uploaded to your online application before submission. As a reminder, transactions and industry units listed as verified do not require proof materials.
Online Application Submission
Starting in 2021, all applications must be submitted online and approved by the broker/office manager prior to the application deadline. Applications that are not submitted or approved cannot be reviewed and will not be eligible to receive the award. There are no exceptions or appeals to this rule. It is highly recommended that applicants check with their broker to ensure ample time is allotted for review and approval process. No hard-copy applications will be accepted by any local board/association.
Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS® - Affiliate Partner of the Year Award
The Affiliate Partner of the Year Award is bestowed on an Affiliate member who has been actively involved in the Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS® contributing their time and energy to educate the membership on businesses and services geared to help members succeed in the real estate transaction.
Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS® - 'One to Watch' Award
Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS® - REALTOR® Service Award
The MORR REALTOR® Service Award is presented each year to a dedicated MORR member who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the real estate profession and to the Association.
New Jersey REALTORS® Educational Foundation
The New Jersey REALTORS® Educational Foundation, formerly New Jersey Association of REALTORS® Educational Foundation (NJAREF®), is a non-profit organization that was established in 1969 to foster education, promote knowledge, conduct research and assist in the education of students pursuing a college or university degree.
New Jersey REALTORS® Educational Foundation offers annual scholarships to help students meet the costs of higher education. Criteria for selection include academic achievements, financial need, interest in real estate endeavors, and contributions to family, school and communities.
Students are eligible for a scholarship if they are a high school senior who will be attending an undergraduate four-year institution, or currently enrolled in an undergraduate four-year institution.
Applicants must be a member, or a relative of a member of New Jersey REALTORS® or a local state association/board staff who resides in New Jersey.
MORR Emeritus REALTOR® and Emeritus REALTOR Associate® Status
Members who have been awarded Emeritus REALTOR® Status from the National Association of REALTORS® shall be automatically awarded Emeritus REALTOR® or Emeritus REALTOR® Associate status at Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS®.
Those members who meet the following criteria shall be awarded MORR Emeritus REALTOR® or MORR Emeritus REALTOR® Associates of Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS®
- A REALTOR® member of MORR who has held membership in the National Association of REALTOR® for a cumulative period of forty (40) years -and-
- Has held membership in Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS® for a cumulative period of ten (10) years -and-
- Has served on a committee or as a Director of Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS®, New Jersey REALTORS® or the National Association of REALTORS® for at least one (1) year of service -and-
- Has requested such status from the Association prior to the dues billing year -and-
- Has been verified by the Chief Executive Officer of the Association prior to the billing year.
Those members of Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS® who are awarded Emeritus REALTOR® status shall be entitled to:
- Use of the term MORR Emeritus REALTOR®
- Waiver of local association annual dues.
NAR REALTOR® EMERITUS STATUS
A REALTOR® Member who has held membership in the National Association as a REALTOR® for a cumulative period of forty (40) years, is eligible for REALTOR® Emeritus status.
Please note: Applications can ONLY be submitted by the local association on behalf of the member requesting Emeritus status.
Eligibility
The REALTOR® Emeritus status eligibility requirements are:
Forty (40) years of REALTOR® membership.
Proof of one (1) year of service* at the National Association level.
* “Service” is defined as serving as an NAR officer, director, committee member, Federal Political Coordinator, Global Ambassador, or Global Coordinator to a country with which NAR holds a reciprocal agreement.
Upon approval of an application for REALTOR® Emeritus status by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®, no further payment of dues to the National Association is necessary by the member association of which the REALTOR® Emeritus is a member. Please note that the dues waiver does not take effect until the dues year immediately following the Board of Directors’ approval. In addition, REALTOR® Emeritus Members are exempt from the Code of Ethics Training requirement.
New Jersey REALTORS® quarter century club
NJ REALTORS® Quarter Century Club recognizes members who have reached 25 years or more of membership in the association.
NAR REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards
NAR is looking for REALTORS® who make an extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work. Five Good Neighbor Award winners will receive $10,000 grants, national publicity and travel expenses to attend the REALTORS® Conference and Expo.
New Jersey REALTORS® Good Neighbor Award
The New Jersey REALTORS® Good Neighbor Award recognizes REALTORS® who have made an extraordinary commitment to community service on the local, national and/or global level.