Scholarship!

I have great news! I applied for a scholarship from the recreation department and was really honored when they informed me I'm going to be a recipient for the 2010-2011 school year! It's really exciting because they only select a few students and I really didn't think I was more qualified than all of the others that applied. I am so grateful for the award and know that Heavenly Father had a hand in the selection process :) Last week there was a scholarship banquet at the Hinckley Alumni Center, a totally gorgeous building on campus. I had never been inside, but it was really so beautiful.

They had a yummy dinner and then some of our professors presented the different scholarships. Also, the department honored an outstanding recreational professional in Utah. He gave a really motivating speech that helped me remember the power of recreation to bring families and communities together.

This is some of the students who've been in my "TR cohort" that also received awards. I've seen these people like everyday for the past year and a half-in classes, working on projects, and recreating together :) I am grateful for these teachers, who have inspired me to want to work with people, implement programs with power to change, and monitor progress in the lives of real individuals. As Dr. Zabriskie always says, "We're people people." I really do feel like I am going to find a lot of happiness in the work I can do with the degree I am getting. I still don't know what population I want to work with, but I am looking forward to internship and volunteer opportunities in lots of different settings. Hopefully, I'll find something that clicks! Nonetheless, I feel very blessed to get to study therapeutic recreation at BYU, one of the few colleges in the country that has an accredited program. What an opportunity!