Student Employee Development
University Recreation provides many opportunities for student employee personal and professional development. Programming includes a variety of informal and formal options throughout each semester. Specific examples of developmental opportunities include: leadership development, career readiness competencies, job specific trainings and certifications, employee power skills, and much more. Development programming is designed to further knowledge of campus recreation while improving the transition from graduate to professional and is framed around the NACE Career-Readiness Competencies.
UREC LEAD is an interactive and customizable leadership and professional development program for UREC Student Staff that consists of 10-12 sessions throughout each academic year. Session topics will help you discover more about yourself, advance your academic success, prepare you for leadership positions within UREC, and develop competencies for career readiness.
Past Session Topics:
- Empathetic Teamwork
- Microaggressions in the Workplace
- Telling Your Professional Story
- Financial Wellness
- Charcuterie and Career-Readiness
- Professional Communication
- Painting a Perspective Mural Tour
- The Power of Language - Exploring LGBTQIA+ Terminology
- Sustainability Project w/ the City of Fayetteville
- Career Discovery
- Inclusive Workplace Environments for Neurodiverse Students
- Assessing Your Strengths
- Prioritizing Wellness in the Workplace
- Maximizing Microsoft Outlook
Each semester UREC offers Free Graduation and Professional Photo Sessions for student staff members.
University Recreation honors it's 300+ employees during National Student Employee Appreciation Week and during the Honors and Awards Celebration at the conclusion of spring semester.
UREC Sports Official of the Year - Jackson Meharg
UREC Sports Supervisor of the Year - Matthew Hollenbeck
Outstanding Student Staff for Group Fitness - Kayce Brott
Outstanding Student Staff for Personal and Small Group Training - Faith Pearrow
Above & Beyond in Marketing - Jen Iseman
UREC Outdoors Staff Pick - Kyle Walker
Facility Assistant of the Year - Ethan Kaufman
Donna Axum Fitness Center Attendant of the Year - Mateo Sanchez Rivera
UREC Fitness Center Attendant of the Year - Rovin Caballero Sanjur
Lifeguard of the Year - Cole Burke
Swim Lesson Instructor of the Year - Claire Ryscavage
Service Center Attendant of the Year - Alisa Wyant
Facility Supervisor of the Year - Eva Bwiza
Student Manager of the Year - Shannon Wallace
Craig A. Edmonston Outstanding Student Leader Award - Chris Bullock
UREC Sports Official of the Year - Ryan Quimbo
UREC Sports Supervisor of the Year - Brenden Bates
Outstanding Student Staff for Group Fitness - Caroline Schifani
Outstanding Student Staff for Personal and Small Group Training - Faith Pearrow
Above & Beyond in Marketing - Maddy Adkins
UREC Outdoors Staff Pick - Leah Center
Facility Assistant of the Year - Addison Knight
Donna Axum Fitness Center Attendant of the Year - Pablo Escovar
UREC Fitness Center Attendant of the Year - Andrew Paxson
Lifeguard of the Year - Ella Silvis
Service Center Attendant of the Year - Adeline Irabaruta
Facility Supervisor of the Year - Logan Nelson
Student Manager of the Year - Chris Bullock
Craig A. Edmonston Outstanding Student Leader Award - Nyasha Bgoni
UREC also recognizes Employees of the Term every semester - celebrating the students who exemplified URECs values and were vital to our success.
Alex Guin - Lifeguard
EJ Williams Jr. - UREC Sports Official
Jeb Willborg - UREC Fitness Center Attendant
Joe Fiorenza - UREC Crew
Kaden Ramirez - Outdoor Supervisor
Laney Hansen - Outdoor Supervisor
Luke Longworth - Facility Assistant
Naomi Stein - Donna Axum Fitness Center Attendant
Nathan Hollien - UREC Sports Supervisor
Olivia Ouimette - Group Fitness Instructor
Rob Tinsley - UREC Graduate Assistant
Rylie Ford - Wellness Peer Educator
Sarah Carl - Facility Supervisor
Tessa Goodwin - Photographer
Yerko Berrocal - ELA Excellence
Anna Christenson - UREC Sports Supervisor
Caleb Martin - Facility Supervisor
Darbi Walker - Social Media Manager
Gwen Kuhns - Student Manager
Kelsey Blaskowski - Lifeguard
Luis De Gracia - Donna Axum Fitness Center Attendant
Maegan Pironti - Personal & Small Group Trainer
Morgan Heflin - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Tyson Lucas - UREC Crew
Alyssa Martinez - Wellness Social Media Manager
Blaise Keasler - Graphic Designer
Caroline Strauss - UREC Fitness Center Attendant
Collin Keen - UREC Crew
Ethan Asher - Wellness GA
Fletcher Creed - UREC Sports Official
Gracie Parker - Group Fitness Instructor
Jackson Jessup - Facility Supervisor
Jenna Kempkes - Personal Trainer
Kate Gryder - Lifegaurd
Kate Maurer - Donna Axum Fitness Center Attendant
Kerry McClanahan - Facility Assistant
Nathan Magee - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Megan Smothers - Student Manager
Amy Roos - Student Manager
Brenden Bates - UREC Sports Supervisor
Claire Ryscavage - Swim Instructor
Edward McKinnon - Lifeguard
Ethan Kaufman - Service Center Attendant
Fernando Murillo - UREC Crew
Jack Meharg - UREC Sports Official
Jorge Rodriguez Pena - UREC Fitness Center Attendant
Kylie Gruender - Social media Manager
Nathan Wojtowicz - Facility Supervisor
Sean Betts - UREC Outdoors GA
Shealynn Lander - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Trent Powell - Donna Axum Fitness Center Attendant
Eva Bwiza - Service Center Attendant
Cade Cantrell - Student Manager
Brenan Cash - Facility Assistant
Mauricio Gutierrez Marcks - Group Fitness Monitor
Madison Johnson - Facility Supervisor
Joshua Mora Sanchez - Lifeguard
Win Phillips - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Amelia Reynolds - Student Manager
Craig Yetter - Fitness Center Attendant
Devin Brockwell - Service Center Attendant
Cole Burke - LIfeguard
Amelia Bushek - UREC Sports Supervisor
Cade Cantrell - Facility Supervisor
Abby Dintelman - Fitness Center Attendant
Matthew Hollenback - UREC Sports Official
Sophia Milligan - Social Media Manager & Graphic Designer
Caleb Nunis - Student Manager
Josine Nyandwi - Fitness Center Attendant
Trey Standridge - Student Manager
Kyle Walker - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Alisa Wyant - Facility Assistant
Zane Pitman - UREC Outdoors GA
Mario Adames - Fitness Center Attendant
Alex Bray - UREC Sports Official
Chris Bullock - Student Manager
Leah Center - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Tera Culp - Facility Supervisor
Jen Iseman - Graphic Designer
Addison Knight - Facility Assistant
Nathan Lange - UREC Sports Supervisor
Tommy Marcinkiewicz - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Faith Pearrow - Personal Trainer
Connor Repp - UREC Sports Official
Megan Smothers - Service Center Attendant
Jordan Tong - Lifeguard
Nyasha Bgoni - Social Media Manager
Aidan Caig - UREC Outdoors Supervisor
Eric Castro - Facility Assistant
Sam Doehring- Student Manager
Samantha Dugas - Fitness Center Attendant
Nate Lucas - Service Center Attendant
Colby Lucy - Lifegaurd
Jacob Rathbun - UREC Crew
The purpose of the University Recreation Student Staff Professional Development Fund is to support and promote continuing education and professional development. The fund will provide financial assistance to currently employed UREC Student Staff and UREC Graduate Assistants for certifications, trainings, conference registration and other activities that will further the applicant’s professional development and be of benefit to University Recreation and its membership.
Student Employee applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding:
- Actively employed by University Recreation for a minimum of 6 months
- Currently enrolled at least half-time at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
- Maintain a positive work history within University, not having been dismissed or suspended from any program area or position.
Application Process
- Student employee must submit completed application and professional resume
- Student employee must submit two letters of evaluation, at least one of those must come from a University Recreation full-time staff member
- Committee will review applications using the criteria outlined below, student employee applicants will be notified of award/denial within 2 business days of being reviewed by committee
- If student employee accepts an award, they will submit a written evaluation of the professional development opportunity within 2 weeks of completion.
Application Review Criteria
Review of applications is based on the following criteria:
- Relevance to current position or future career aspiration
- Commitment to applying knowledge/training within University Recreation
- Letters of evaluation
- Accuracy, attention to detail, and demonstration of need
Letter of Evaluation:
Each letter should include evaluation of the applicant’s professionalism, accountability, communication, and teamwork. Additional information to inform the committee about the applicant’s experiences in campus recreation or future career goals are welcome.
Letters of evaluation from supervisors may be submitted to Kinley Davenport at kmd015@uark.edu or included in the application.
Click here to apply for student staff professional development funding.
Purpose: Serve as advocates for UREC student employees and the University of Arkansas student body; provide an avenue for feedback and suggestions to and from UREC students and professional staff.
Mission: To make a positive impact on the UREC student employee experience by creating opportunities for staff to provide feedback and make suggestions, increase their professional knowledge and skills, act ethically, and increase motivation. To make a positive impact on the programs and services UREC provides the University of Arkansas community.
2024-2025 Board Members:
- Chair - Jackson Jessup
- Vice Chair - Makayla Hayden
- Aquatics - Kelsey Blaskowski
- Facilities - Lauren Mayden
- Fitness - Jordan Westfall
- UREC Sports - EJ Williams
- Marketing - Gabby Woodie
- UREC Outdoors - Rena Murray
- Wellness - Vacant
- At Large - Jill Nunley
- At Large - Kailah Rathell
- At Large - Kenny Lewis
- At Large - Nolan Lipe
To contact the board, email URECSEAB@uark.edu.
Board members are selected from those nominated during each spring semester and serve 2 year terms.
Below you can find the position descriptions for each of the UREC student staff titles that are currently active. Use these along with the NACE Career-Readiness Competencies to craft your resume and practice talking about your work experience at UREC.
Click on your position below to download your position description:
If you do not see one of your positions above please reach out to mlmuzzil@uark.edu for access to that position description.
UREC VEHICLE AND TRAILER TRAINING & OPERATIONS TRAINING
Prior to any travel on behalf of UREC with a personal, rental, or UREC vehicle or trailer, the items reviewed in this training must be completed.
UREC Club Sport Officers and Members that will be driving must complete this training and receive approval
from UREC Sports Admin Staff prior to the club's first trip. Please NOTE: If your club travel with a trailers you will be required to complete the trailer practical
assessment with UREC Sports Admin Staff.
UREC Outdoors Staff will assist in providing practical assessments. This completed training must be reviewed
by your direct supervisor prior to utilizing the vehicle or trailer. Direct supervisors
must verify completion of training and assessments before submitting to Meredith Thomas
for database entry. Please NOTE: Vehicle practical assessment must be completed prior to trailer practical assessment.
UREC Driver Safety
Review Arkansas State Vehicle Safety Program Driving Safety Tips
Complete Authorization to Operate Vehicle Form and Submit to UARK Risk Management Office
UREC Vehicle (Van)
Review University of Arkansas Van Policy and NHTSA Van Safety Tips
Review UREC Vehicles Select Policies, Procedures, & AFPs
Review UREC Vehicle Checkout Process
Complete UREC Driver Practical Assessment (scheduled through UO staff)
UREC Vehicle Check List (complete prior to travel outside of Benton/Washington Count)
UREC Trailer
Review UREC Trailer Check List (UREC Outdoors/UREC Sports complete prior to each use)
Review UREC Driver & Trailer Practical Assessment (scheduled through UO Staff) (will be completed during practical assessment)
Please contact UREC HR with any questions.