Fourth year BARST student, Karie Hanson, was awarded the 2010 Halladay Memorial Student Award by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association at its annual banquet this year.
When the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) recognized outstanding achievement in the recreation field at its annual President's Awards Banquet, two of our own undergraduate students, Sara Dettling and Karie Hanson, were among 10 award and scholarship winners.
It's a singular honour for the two students, both of whom are currently in the BA, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism (BARST) degree program - and both inspired by the power of recreation, and the immense impact of nature, and recreation in nature, on well-being.
Karie Hanson, with a long history of volunteerism in sport, recreation and nature in her community, both as a high school student and at university, was awarded the Halladay Memorial Student Award which recognizes, "a student… who has contributed to recreation and/or parks services through volunteer activities, work experiences, studies and involvement in ARPA."
They're attributes Hanson has aplenty. Currently in her final year of study in the BARST program, Hanson is completing the practicum portion of her degree working as a coordinator of the Faculty's summer sport and activity camps for which she's planning a leadership camp. She is also a volunteer at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, drawn by her interest in understanding and helping to overcome the barriers immigrants face when they come to Canada.
She kindled her love of nature, volunteering with the Environmental Coordination Office of Students (ECOS) at the U of A and fuelled her strong belief in the benefits of outdoor recreation.
Hanson's love of sport, which initially drew her to volunteer as a junior high basketball coach, says the award has been very welcome. "It is truly nice to have the extra money to put towards my tuition, and I was just plain excited and grateful that I was selected for the Halladay Memorial Student Award" she says.
She will complete her degree this year and has tentative plans to either continue post-graduate studies in the recreation field or to pursue a career sharing her love for recreation and nature with others.
Sara Dettling, a third year student in the BARST program, received the AABRD Legacy Undergraduate Scholarship that "assists Albertans in advancing their undergraduate level education in the area of recreation for people with disabilities."
With a passion for therapeutic recreation - the field in which she wants to work - Dettling strongly believes in making recreational opportunities more inclusive of those with disabilities, and that being active, being engaged in recreational activities, is what lends to enhanced self-esteem, purpose, and self-determination for people with disabilities.
Dettling's passion for nature and recreation in nature has sparked an interest in the nature deficit disorder movement. "This award has further inspired me to advance my education in this area through entering a master's program in either occupational therapy, or adapted physical education," she says.
More information about Alberta Recreation and Parks Association at www.arpaonline.ca and more about the annual awards at www.awards.arpaonline.ca .