National Academy of Recreational Therapists 2024 Award Recipients

2025-02-05

 

National Academy of Recreational Therapists

2024 Award Recipients

Academies are honorific societies composed of the most accomplished leaders of a profession. Individuals elected to inclusion in an Academy have continuing dialogue regarding the critical issues facing their field and provide expertise and counsel on how best to address these issues in order to advance their profession.

 

Goals of NART

 

The National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) is a national academy that pursues activities to support and advance the recreational therapy profession by recognition, educa- tion, research, scholarly activity, advocacy and the provision of advice to decision makers.

 

Establish a network of recog- nized scholars and outstand- ing practitioners who have significantly contributed to the advancement of recre- ational therapy

Advance the public awareness and understanding of the rec- reational therapy profession by conducting and advancing research and scholarly activ- ities to improve recreational therapy practice, patient/ consumer outcomes and ed- ucation for safe and effective recreational therapy practice

Promote adoption and con- sistent application of evi- dence-based professional stan- dards and guidelines for the delivery of safe and effective recreational therapy practice

Support conducting research and scholarly activities to ad- vance and improve delivery of recreational therapy services in the treatment, rehabilitation and education of individuals in need of recreational therapy

Recognize best practices and promoting research and

scholarly activities to enhance educational opportunities

 

Membership in NART is by invitation. Candidates must be nominated by a NART Fellow and must (a) hold national certification as a CTRS® or have been formerly certified as a CTRS® before retirement; (b) hold a state license, registration or certification in compliance with state regulations; (c) demonstrate competence through professional activities over a minimum of 10 years; (d) demonstrate a minimum of two of the following: quality as well as quantity of contributions to the literature of the profession, recognition of leadership and extensive par- ticipation in professional associations and organizations, and/or acknowledged outstanding performance as a teacher, leader, administrator, practitioner, or researcher in the field of recre- ational therapy; and (e) indicate a willingness to further the goals of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists and participate in its affairs.

 

NART is pleased to introduce The 2024 Future Scholar:

Casey Weidner is pursuing her master’s degree at East Carolina University, where she also received her bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy in 2023. She completed her clinical internship at UNC Hos- pital and is currently a graduate and teaching assistant in the ECU Department of Recreation Sciences. She holds the following credentials: National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (2023), North Carolina Recreational Therapy license (2023), and Certified Adaptive Recreation and Sport Specialist (CARSS) (2022). She’s received the the North Carolina Recreational Therapy Association (NCRTA) Past Presidents Scholarship Award (2022) and is a Peg Connolly Scholarship winner (2024). She is serving her second term as the Student Representative on the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE) Board of Directors. Entering her final year of the Master’s Program, Casey’s major areas of interest include: the relationship between screen time and varying mental health disorders/conditions in adolescents and young adults; the relationship between technol- ogy usage and varying cognitive functions; behavioral health in adolescents and young adults; the use of technological treatment interventions; and community inclusion and recreation for individuals with IDD. Casey is planning to pursue a doctoral degree to, “continue her commitment and passion for the field of recreational therapy.”

Congratulations to Casey Weidner, the 2024 NART Future Scholar.

The purpose of NART’s Future Scholar Program is to provide currently enrolled master’s degree students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate in an area related to therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy with the intention of entering academia as a faculty member in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy the opportunity to meet and be mentored by scholars in the profession. The selected applicants attend the ATRA Annual Conference and receive a stipend to help cover the conference cost.

 

For more information about NART visit our website at: https://www.nart.academy/

National Academy of Recreational Therapists Scholarly Manuscript Award

Therapeutic Recreation Journal Annual in Therapeutic Recreation

Sponsored by Sagamore-Venture

 

Therapeutic Recreation Journal Annual in Therapeutic Recreation 2024 Marcia Carter Best Paper Award

Sponsored by Sagamore-Venture and

the National Academy of Recreational Therapists

 

The NART Scholarly Manuscript Award is a peer-review award that recognizes one manuscript annually from the Thera- peutic Recreation Journal–Annual in Therapeutic Recreation (Volume 54, numbers 3 and 4 [2020] and Volume 55, numbers 1 and 2 [2021]) that exhibits outstanding literary contribution to the profession of therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy as demonstrated by the following:

 

The Therapeutic Recreation Journal-Annual in Therapeutic Recreation Marcia Carter Best Paper Award is a peer-review award that recognizes one manuscript annually from the Therapeutic Recreation Journal–Annual in Therapeutic Recreation (Volume 57, Numbers 3 and 4 [2023] and Volume 58, Numbers 1 and 2 [2024]) The award considers originality, significance of the research, methodology rigor, and quality and impact of the manuscript. The selected manuscript exhibits outstanding literary contribution to the profession of therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy as demonstrated by the following:

  • Exhibits exemplary contribution to the knowledge base and or best practices through research, theory, or evi- dence-based practice
  • Exhibits exemplary adherence to research and writing protocols appropriate to the nature of the manuscript
  • Presents innovative model, practice, and/or resolution of need or issue that advances quality of recreational therapy interventions and services
  • Presents justification, rationale, evidence from research, and/or practice that advances recreational therapy outcomes providing evidence for the profession’s contribution to health and quality of life
  • Facilitates advancement of the APIE-D process through improved accountability and efficacy
  • Enhances the theoretical foundation of therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy practices
  • Fosters practices that address a broad clientele spectrum contributing to interprofessional outcomes

 

 

 

 

  The 2024 Marcia Carter Best Paper Award Winner

The 2024 award is presented to Mikayla Soli, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University, and Rhonda Nelson, Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies at the University of Utah, for their manuscript “Evaluation of a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program for military personnel receiving inpatient treatment for a substance use disorder” that appeared in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 58(2), 2024, pp. 125–142. A monetary award accompanies this honor.

 

Congratulations to the 2024 finalists:

 

Anderson, L. S., Heyne, L. A., & Hsieh, P-C. (2024). Testing the validity of the Flourishing through Leisure Model, Relation- ship of leisure to well-being. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 58(2), 155–173.

 

Dattilo, J. (2024). Leisure education grounded in social justice: A facilitative technique that contributes to inclusive leisure and therapeutic recreation. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 58(1), 39–60.