Three More Weeks Until the Soaring to New Heights Conference!

Three More Weeks Until the Soaring to New Heights Conference!

Three more weeks until the Soaring to New Heights Conference! There are so many aspects of conference I am looking forward to this year. One of which is our Sponsor-a-Student Program at the Annual Awards Luncheon at conference. Today’s newsletter article features the student IPRA is sponsoring at our table this year, Maggie Olofson, a sophomore from the University of Illinois.

The Sponsor-a-Student Program started last year. It is a way for students to attend the luncheon for free and a way for agencies to have a student join their table at NO expense to the agency. This is not a program where an agency buys lunch for a student. It is instead a way for agencies to donate their time and attention to a student during the event. Students will be assigned to agencies who signed up for the program and we let the students and agencies know who they are matched with in advance. We hope that as you share your table together, you will take the opportunity to introduce your sponsored student to your peers, commissioners, and friends. We want it to be a special opportunity for students to network with professionals in the field at a very high level. Further, my goal has always been that by sharing the luncheon with current college students, that they will see those people who are being honored in our field for their work and the students will be inspired to do the best they can do in their careers and to stay in parks and recreation in the early days of their career when finding the right path is challenging. Thank you to everyone who has selected this opportunity to sponsor a student.

Each of the last two years, in my travels around the state, meeting with different schools, I choose to select a special student to honor as IPRA’s Sponsored Student. Last year, I selected Lukas Wyss, at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, and the first year of the program I selected Torri Withrow, at SIU-Carbondale. 

This year, Maggie Olafson was recommended to me by her professor, LoriKay Paden. Maggie is a second generation park and recreation professional, following in her mother’s footsteps. She has already been working the last three summers in the field as a lifeguard at the Roselle Park District. Maggie notes, "I am really passionate and excited about what I study and can't wait to be in the field." LoriKay noted that she is a dedicated student and a determined student leader at U of I. Her supervisor at the Roselle Park District, Aquatics/Facilities Specialist Michelle Stump, has been mentoring her and encouraging her to continue in the community/public parks and recreation field. (Thank you, Michelle!)

Maggie’s career goals including using "public recreation through park districts to benefit communities, particularly inner-city or lower income communities." Maggie notes, "I am honored to be chosen for this and am very excited about it."

What an honor it is for me to sponsor Maggie at the Annual Awards Luncheon as IPRA’s Sponsored Student. I look forward to meeting all the other students who will have this opportunity. I hope that the agencies sponsoring them will be able to give their students some special attention too. This is a great way to invest in the future of our field. 

See you all at conference!

Debbie Trueblood, CAE
Executive Director