Campus Recreation
Volume 17, Issue 1
Think Purple! Think Campus Rec! Think Western!
From the Director
Wow, I can’t believe how time seems to fly faster and faster each year! It is already time for NIRSA and hiring more new graduate assistants. We have been so blessed to have some of the finest graduate students work for us. Of course, most of you know we hire some of the best and brightest, and they go on to lead creative & productive lives…such as yourselves! We have had another fun and successful year with many great activities and events. Many of those successes are highlighted here or through Facebook, Twitter, and our website. Something I want to highlight that I’ve always felt passionate about since my first impression of Western Illinois University…the people here! I can’t say enough how thankful I’ve been for the experiences and opportunities I’ve had here at Western. I’ve been especially proud and blessed to have been a part of Campus Recreation here. I’ve always appreciated the relationships, the support, and the PEOPLE. In turn, I want to pay it forward to all of the talented people we work with daily. I remember when I was in coaching, NCAA used to put out a brochure highlighting their interns who were “on the market.” This is exactly what I want to emphasize in this and our future Western Connection newsletters. I simply ask you to remember the good times you had here, and hopefully want to help in this attempt to pay it forward. If you are in a position to help or connect any of these future professionals,
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I would greatly appreciate your assistance in keeping this Western Connection alive and thriving. I give you my word; all five of these graduate assistants will be super stars! I will be happy to speak to you in person in great detail about any of them. Please take a look at their profiles and find a few minutes to chat with them at NIRSA. You may be able to help connect them with their next step in their awesome journey of life! Thanks so much for your commitment to the profession and to Western Illinois University. I hope we will see you at our combined Student Affairs/Western Connection social this year. We are hosting a bigger and better event with ALL the perks of a VP Social… better food, drinks, and door prizes! Please come by and impress our administration with all of our wonderful, loyal alumni. We hope to see you there: Tuesday, March 5, 7:30-9:00 p.m., in the Red Rock Room VIII of the Flamingo Hotel.
Campus Recreation Fall 2012 Graduate Assistants Front Row (left-right): Brenna Saline, Kyla Keefauver, Amber Bedee, Kristin Obert, Tiby Bonales Gonzalez, Nick Waterman, Ryan Tubbs Back Row: Steve Dowhan, Suzie Farner, Katie Gossell, Nathan Pittman, Ben Blodgett, Chuck Thomas, and Kevin Wilson. Not pictured & new this semester: Samantha Wallace
Hot off the presses! Let us introduce you to our . . . Ben Blodgett M. S. in Sport Management BL-Blodgett@wiu.edu (850) 341-3916 Ben received his bachelor’s from Florida State University in Sport Management. He is seeking a position in Facility Management in the campus recreation community. Ben is passionate about golf and helping people enjoy themselves. Ben says he is “most appreciative about the flexibility the professional staff have shown in letting me learn the different areas/programs during my two years. Without the freedom to fail, learn, adjust and try again, I wouldn’t have learned as much as I have.” Ben was selected to participate on a student panel to research, write and orally present on the “Ethical Dilemmas in American Collegiate Sport: The Cost of Building A Champion” at the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport (IAPS) Conference in Porto, Portugal. He attended the conference with Assistant Professor & Graduate Coordinator for Sport Management Dr. Algerian Hart and Associate VP for academic affairs Dr. Ron Williams. Originally from Pensacola, FL, Ben admits he would love to live on the beach or in the mountains. Key skills: Organized, detailed oriented, and ability to work with diverse groups of people. “Ben is very passionate about the Campus Recreation profession. He is going to be very successful.” ~Nick Knowles
Kristin Obert M.S. in Kinesiology Krstnobert14@gmail.com (217) 617-5531 Kristin received a B.S. in Exercise Science from Western Illinois University. She is passionate about anything related to fitness and wellness. She loves helping others improve their lives through exercise, not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well. Kristin says being at WIU has “helped me find my true calling in life. I came into Western thinking I wanted to be a meteorologist, but after taking group fitness classes through the Rec Center, I realized that maybe fitness was something I should look into. I changed majors on a whim--to exercise science and fell in love with the field. WIU’s Kinesiology Department helped prepare me for a career in fitness, and my jobs through Campus Recreation helped me increase my knowledge and enhance my abilities. If it wasn’t for WIU and Campus Recreation I would not be the person I am today. I often hear from those close to me that I am a completely different person and have changed for the better.” Originally from Liberty, IL, Kristen would love to be the personal trainer for Avenged Sevenfold and go on tour with them. “It would be the perfect way to mix my love of music and fitness!” Key Skills: I think everyone can see my love and passion for fitness shine through on a daily basis. I love to share my knowledge with others and help inspire them. My dedication and work ethic have always been key skills in jobs that I perform. I always try to put 100% into everything I do and I believe that people see that and appreciate it. “Kristen is an honest, hard-working, and dedicated GA for Campus Rec. She is passionate and gives 110% everyday.” ~Kelley Kenady
Rocky poses for Campus Rec!
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Western Illinois University
Campus Recreation
May graduates! Brenna Saline Master’s in Business Administration BD-Saline@wiu.edu Brenna came to WIU from Missouri Western State University where she earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. Brenna is passionate about sports--both playing and watching. Although she is originally from Galesburg, Illinois, she says she would love to live somewhere warm. She would like to find a Business Operations position in an Athletic Department at a college or university. Brenna said she appreciates the people at Western Illinois University and all they have done to help her develop both personally and professionally. Key skills: Hard working, detail-oriented, organized, great time management, professional attitude ” Brenna’s experience as an intercollegiate athlete has been very helpful in leading the sport club program.” ~Nick Knowles Women’s Club Softball and the WIU Fencing Club are two of the many great clubs in Campus Recreation Sport Clubs!
Chuck Thomas M.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration CC-Thomas@wiu.edu (217) 322-8017 Chuck graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration. He would like to find a position in Facility Management or Intramural Sports. Chuck is passionate about sports and how to implement them to benefit others. Actually, he says he would “love to go to the Super Bowl, but more realistically I would love to become a Facility Manager or Director of Intramural Sports at a Division 1 institution’s campus recreation center.” Chuck enjoys the small town atmosphere of Macomb. “I love that I can meet someone at work and then see them at the grocery store the next day.” Key skills: Hard worker, organized, punctual, good with conflict resolution and problem-solving, and fun to work with. “Chuck is a great success story for Campus Recreation. He started in the equipment room as a freshmen in college, and he knows the entire front to back operation of the Rec Center. He will be missed.”~Nick Knowles
Students enjoyed the recent Lincoln’s Birthday trip to Snowstar!
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May graduates (continued) Katie Marie Gossell (DeGross) M.S. Kinesiology, Fitness Management & Wellness Promotions kgossell@hotmail.com (847) 754-0536 Katie earned her degree in Health Education & Public/ Community Health Administration from Northern Illinois University. She is seeking a position in fitness management and wellness promotion, personal training, health education (school, community, hospital, or corporate), health care administration, pre-/post-natal exercise & nutrition, and/or certified cancer exercise specialist. “I would love to be able to help educate people on the importance of prevention and how health and fitness can be a key component to preventing many ailments and diseases.” Katie says she appreciates all of the people she has met at Western Illinois University. “I have been able to make lasting connections with many people in all different fields here at WIU. These connections have helped me gain a better understanding of my goals for the future and how we all build upon each other to make this world a better place.” She is passionate about health, fitness, education, smoking cessation, lung cancer awareness, and pre-natal health. Key skills: nutrition education, fitness training, program development, facility management, program facilitation, weight management, weightlifting, wellness coaching, fitness assessments, injury prevention, lifespan wellness, CRP/AED, first aid, job scheduling, lesson planning “Katie has a strong desire to teach higher education after graduating in May.”~Nick Knowles
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Western Illinois University
Accessibility We are rededicating ourselves to accessibility issues in an effort to develop an inviting and inclusive environment in Campus Recreation facilities and programming that provides access to all. Our mission is to try to come up with priorities and then investigate what we can or cannot implement in our facilities to meet our goals. Two of our graduate assistants, Kevin Wilson and Ryan Tubbs, are working toward acquiring six sport wheelchairs for WIU. RPTA, Kinesiology, and the Disability Resource Center have committed to four out of six sport wheelchairs. Donations are needed to fund two additional sport wheelchairs. Accessible doors on the west side of the Rec Center should be installed by the end of the semester. We are working on a user survey in conjunction with Kinesiology and the Disability Resource Center to determine needs and perceptions of individuals of our facility and programming accessibility. We are working on a web page to explain all of our accessible features to students, the campus community, and prospective students. One of our graduate assistants, Ben Blodgett worked with a student, Josh Andrews, to apply clear dots to the cardio machines so visually impaired students will be able to navigate the controls. Currently, we are looking into new ADA steps for the pool and directional signage throughout the building to aid people in way finding.
Campus Recreation
Outdoor Pursuits As our new Director of Aquatics Management and Outdoor Pursuits, Pat McGrath is creating opportunities for adventure both on and off campus! He is providing new and exciting experiences for students by taking them camping, hiking, backpacking, climbing and more. Last semester, Pat took nine students backpacking in Missouri at Cuivre River State Park. Many of the students had never gone backpacking before, and despite some heavy rains, the group wanted to know when they could go again. Pat has started Wednesday Walk in the Woods introducing students to one of our local treasures, Lake Argyle State Park. He engages students by teaching them the ropes at the Horn Field Campus climbing tower. In January, he took students rock climbing at the Upper Limits Climbing Gym in Bloomington, IL, where they learned basic climbing moves and how to belay in the Climbing 101 course. During spring break, Pat will lead some of the more adventurous WIU students on a white water rafting and ziplining trip to New River Gorge in West Virginia. Pat has boating in April, camping at Lake Argyle, and the Horn Field Campus Challenge Course on his spring agenda. All this is in addition to his responsibilities in Aquatics Management, where he has introduced Swim for the Gold. Participants earn medals based on the number of laps they swim. Western Connection
The Aquatics Challenge–in recognition of National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day– will have swimmers competing in timed inner tube laps, doggy paddle laps, the brick test, and more. While continuing with our time honored, Duck Club tradition, Pat has taken Design created by graphic design Battleship to a student employee, Hilary Derrick whole new level. This year he built a water cannon and strung sprinkler hoses around the pool to douse the participants! Pat’s enthusiam is contagious and that, combined with his natural leadership skills, will be a bonus for the students of WIU.
Rec Facts
▷▷Personal trainers are staffing the Weight Room for more than 50 hours each week to answer lifting, spotting, programming and general fitness questions for our patrons. ▷▷Think Purple! Think Pride! Think Western! has been added to the windows above our east and west entrances. ▷▷The treadmills and crossover demos are humming. Can hardly wait to find out which machine is most popular. ▷▷Our student employees have S.P.A.R.K. (Skills, Passion, Attitude, Respect, and Kindness)! ▷▷Rec Events (formerly Special Events) and Graduate Assistant, Susie Farner, have issued “Call of Duty: Nerf Ops” this semester. ▷▷We are honored to have Miss Macomb, Krista Shirley, teaching 30-Minute Abs, TRX, Abs & Ends, and TurboKick. Her classes rock! ▷▷Congratulations to Megan Ervin, Miss Illinois 2012, for representing WIU with class at the Miss America 2013 pageant in January. Megan taught fitness classes for three years for Campus Rec before winning her title. Spring 2013
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Alumni Updates Dominic Ackerman (Spt Mgmt) Dom is interning at Colorado School of Mines for Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs. Tena (Wurdeman) Bennett (Spt Mgmt ‘00) is now the Director of the Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale Student Center. Mike Bradley (RPTA ‘03) graduated in May with his Ph.D. and is a professor at Eastern Kentucky University. He and his wife, Kathie, are living in Richmond, KY. Lauren (Carrier) McKinnis (Spt Mgmt ‘08) and her husband, Nathan, reside in Durham, North Carolina. She is working for UNC Chapel Hill as a Communications Consultant for a software roll-out they are releasing in January 2014. Lauren will be doing video projects, graphic design and social media for the project. Shelby Crow (RPTA ‘00) is employed in Community and Economic Development in the University of Illinois Extension. You can reach Shelby at sschoon@illinois.edu or shelbys64@ hotmail.com. Caitlin Davis (RPTA ‘11) is here with us at Western Illinois University as the University Housing and Dining Services Conference Coordinator. Lisa (Dennis) Rogers (Spt Mgmt ‘08) is now married to Terry Rogers and is the Marketing Coordinator for Claremore, OK Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tony Dirth (RPTA ‘09) is the Intramural Director for the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. Matt Elser (Spt Mgmt ‘99) is now Business Analyst - Operations Risk Management at CNO Financial Group. Grant Fleetwood (RPTA ‘11) is the Outdoor Pursuits Coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL. Elizabeth Greenlee (Health Sci ‘12) is a Fitness Coordinator with the Department of Recreational Sports at Virginia Tech. Stephanie Howe (MBA ‘09) is an English Language Instructor at the Pink Bus Institute in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. “Lol, same as the
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song . . .” (but in South Korea) “Gangnam is like living on Rodeo Drive.” Molly McKeogh (CSP ‘12) is a Resident Coordinator at La Salle University in Phillidelphia, PA. Brandon Meyer (CSP) is a second year graduate student in office of the Vice President of Student Services. Kristen Nesvacil, M.S. (WP/FM ‘05) is a Sr. Assistant Director- Fitness, Ohio State Rec Sports. Brigham Phillips (RPTA ‘11) is the Facilities Coordinator at University of Iowa. Brigham was awarded the Director’s Award as an intern at UCONN. Jay Swenson (Spt Mgmt ‘11) is running intramurals at University of Illinois Springfield. Katelyn Thomas (Spt Mgmt) is interning with Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Lauren VanSloten (MBA ‘11) is in Detroit working at Universal McCann as a Media Planner for Chrysler Advertising. Brian Weaver (Spt Mgmt ‘11) has been named the Robert D. Kennedy Assistant Director of Intramural Sports (an endowed position) at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Brian was also awarded the Director’s Award as an intern at UCONN. Stephanie Wyffels (Kinesiology ’10) is an Administrative Assistant for Avadyne Health in Moline, IL. This could be YOU! Please update us on what your currently doing and any achievements you have received at c-recreation@wiu.edu.
Campus Recreation
Going Green
New Staff
With the help of John Louden, Instructional Technology Systems Manager and Utech Computer Store Manager, Campus Recreation has two iPads for students to use and two iPads used by staff members. In an effort to embrace the University sustainability goals, Campus Recreation marketing graduate assistant, Nick Waterman developed an online system for filing numerous required forms. “I saw a need to reduce the amount of paper used in our office. I researched using Google Drive and with input from users, we developed a complex database system to meet the need.” Our student employees are now “punching a clock” with their student ID cards instead of filling out a paper copy. Over the last two years, we have cut our printing costs substantially by directing our students and University employees to our website. Digital signage was added in an effort to reduce paper waste even more. The new sign was turned on March 1st.
Alan Arvin, Manager of Sports Facilities AE-Arvin@wiu.edu Alan began working at Campus Recreation in July 2012. He had been the Intercollegiate Athletic Equipment Specialist for Leatherneck football since 2007. Alan has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Construction Technology from Southeastern Community College. He looks forward to his future here at Campus Recreation.
Our Blog
wiucampusrecconnect.wordpress.com
We have had a blog page for a two years now and hope you will check it out. Graduate Assistant, Nick Waterman, is writing posts on a regular basis. We would like to extend an invitation to our alumni to send us a post. Or if you are already blogging, let us know so we can follow you!
Pat McGrath, Director of Aquatics Management and Outdoor Pursuits P-McGrath@wiu.edu From Cincinnati, Ohio, Pat earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Coaching in 2009 at Fort Lewis College in Colorado. In 2011, he received his Master’s in Sport Management here at Western and worked at Campus Recreation as our Sport Clubs graduate assistant. Pat enjoys helping students relax and experience new adventures. His hobbies include whitewater rafting, kayaking and lacrosse, but he claims he cannot live without milk and cookies! Pat was recently named to the Fort Lewis College Men’s Lacrosse Club Hall of Fame in Colorado.
We are Pinning!
pinterest.com/wiucampusrec
Our Pinterest boards are being repinned! Check out our Pinterest boards and let us know what you like! Are you on Pinterest?
Rocky’s Roller Skate is part of our Late Night Fun programming.
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Staff Facts Nick and Liz Knowles, and daughter, Reagan, welcomed Jack Knowles into their family on July 5, 2012.
Western Connection @ NIRSA Western Illinois University Campus Recreation Western Connections 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Red Rock VIII Room Flamingo Hotel
This is in conjunction with ACPA so there will be a lot of WIU alumni there with good food and more!
Heather Higgins (RPTA ‘00) married Dan Althoff on December 29, 2012. Heather is the Assistant Director at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course & Pro Shop.
New Logo Campus Recreation
Campus Recreation has a new logo. Western Illinois University decided to limit the numerous logos and strive for a unified identity.
Water Polo in the pool!
Check out our webpage at www.wiu.edu/campusrec.
The opening sessions of Discover Western are now held in the Spencer Student Recreation Center.
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Think Purple! Think Campus Rec! Think Western!