Rec management prof named Educator of the Year

The Indiana Park and Recreation Association has recognized Indiana State University faculty member Steven Smidley as its Educator of the Year.

Smidley, assistant professor of recreation management, coordinator of recreation management and youth leadership and director of the Center for Recreation Management at Indiana State, received the award recently during the association\'s state conference in Indianapolis. The award is presented annually to an outstanding educator or professor who has enhanced parks and recreation in their community and/or Indiana.

\"This was quite an honor for me, particularly because, prior to coming to Indiana State, I was a recreation professional,\" Smidley said. \"I have been a member of this organization for some time, was president once, and previously had received the Outstanding Professional Award. What made this even more special is that a number of the professional members of this organization are former Indiana State students. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to become professional colleagues with former students and watch their careers develop and flourish.\"

Recipients of Indiana Park and Recreation Association awards are evaluated by their industry peers based upon a scoring system for quality of their projects, impact on their communities and creative solutions, as well as other criteria.

An Indiana State faculty member since 1984, Smidley holds a bachelor\'s degree in physical education from Ball State University as well as a master\'s degree in recreation and parks administration from Indiana University and a doctorate from the department of recreation, park, and tourism studies at IU.

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Contact: Steven Smidley, assistant professor of recreation management, department of kinesiology, recreation and sport, College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services, Indiana State University, 812-237-2187 or steven.smidley@indstate.edu