聽Twenty-two seniors from the RWC student staff have accepted campus recreation graduate assistantships the past three years. Graduate assistants play a vital role in helping recreation facilities to reach annual goals. GAs gain experience in operating recreation programs while having a chance to earn their master degrees. Institutions waive their tuition in exchange for their work.

聽The seniors and their new universities include: Melissa Lewis, Fitness (University of South Carolina), Jamie Mineart, Intramural Sports (Texas A&M University), Patty Suarez, Intramural Sports (Ohio University), Kelsey Vance, Fitness (Purdue University) and Billy Waechter, Intramural Sports (University of Georgia).

聽The 2014 GAs are some of the most honored and recognized student staff members at the RWC: Lewis, is the 2013-2014 RWC Program Employee of the Year, Suarez was honored as a National Campus Recreation Basketball Tournament official and officiated her first Division III College Basketball game in the spring, Vance is a former fitness lead supervisor and Waechter is the February 2014 RWC Employee of the Month, the 2012-2013 RWC Flag Football Official of the Year and a National Flag Football Tournament official.

聽Mineart is the 2013-2014 RWC IM Sports Supervisor of the Year. The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association [NIRSA] also honored her, with the William Wasson Student Leadership and Academic Award in 2013-2014. Named after NIRSA鈥檚 founder, Dr. William N. Wasson, the award recognizes top students in college recreation. Mineart, a two-time All-Tournament Official at NIRSA鈥檚 Regional Flag Football Tournament, says the RWC has really helped her carve out a career path, 鈥淚 got involved with the IM [intramurals] program by chance, but it was one of the best things that happened to me at 麻豆原创. Not only did I meet amazing people but the professional and personal development I gained is priceless.鈥�

The RWC is a department of the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

Named after NIRSA鈥檚 founder, Dr. William N. Wasson, the Wasson Student Leadership and Academic award recognizes top students in college recreation who participate in or are employed by recreation centers across the country. Mineart, a senior and marketing major, was chosen from hundreds of candidates for carrying a 3.8 GPA while positively contributing to 麻豆原创 IM Sports program and RWC Philanthropy and Student Advisory Board Committees.

Mineart is grateful for the opportunity to give back to students at 麻豆原创, “Winning the Wasson Award means a lot to me for multiple reasons. The nomination itself was very humbling for me and made me very thankful for the support of the staff here at the RWC. Most importantly, winning the award has been an opportunity for me to represent 麻豆原创 and give back to those who have given me so many opportunities over my four years here. I am forever grateful for the development, personally and professionally, that I have been given while working at the RWC.”

Mineart is also two-time All-Tournament official at the NIRSA Regional Flag Football Tournament. 麻豆原创 Assistant Director IM Sports Shane Land calls her one of the top employees, 鈥淛amie has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to not only her own professional development but the development of her peers; exercising the ultimate 鈥榗an-do鈥� attitude.鈥�

The NIRSA Creative Excellence Awards recognize innovative approaches to marketing, media, and design by NIRSA member institutions. The RWC won a second place award for the RWC Hand Guide. The 25-page guide is a reference publication for students, parents and visitors to campus and gives an overview of the program, events, facilities, memberships and employment opportunities at the center. RWC Marketing and Communications Manager Scott Mauro says it was truly a team effort, 鈥淭he 2013-2014 RWC Hand Guide is a collaborative effort between our talented team of designers and our program area leadership. We are so honored to be recognized by NIRSA for the hard work in making a guide that gives 麻豆原创 students and parents an inside look at the RWC.鈥�

Mineart and the RWC Marketing team will receive the awards at the April 24-26 NIRSA鈥檚 annual National Conference and Expo in Nashville, TN. To view the RWC Hand Guide, visit: rwc.sdes.ucf.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/52?type=.pdf.