Awards & Recognition
2022 Outstanding Member
This recognition is for a URTA member who has made a significant contribution during the past year by promoting the profession, practice, and philosophy of Recreation Therapy.
Christine Savides
This individual is kind, empowering and teaches others to be confident in their abilities as a recreation therapist. This individual is an absolute RT powerhouse. This individual uses evidenced based interventions on the daily and gives great care and attention to detail when it comes to patients. This individual knows every single name of the 80 patients in the facility. This individual creates a welcoming and inspiring group environment. This individual listens to the patients needs and is so adaptable to what interventions will have the greatest impact for them. From connecting with adolescents to working with our high acuity unit, this individual uses recreation therapy to teach and process with the patients how to cope and feel empowered when dealing with their own challenges associated with mental health. On our CD/Addiction unit this individual frequently helps patients to reconnect with leisure activities that were let go to prioritize alcohol or drug abuse. This individual also uses a handful of fun team building interventions to teach how to communicate needs that often leave our patients wondering how such a fun group, could be so impactful. Listen, this individual is one in a million. This individual advocates daily for recreation therapy with hospital staff and teaches everyone about the benefits of it. This individual is constantly reading RT books and searching out new interventions to try with the patients. Not to mention, this individual is excellent at deescalating patients just by listening because of the positive rapport that has been created. This individual is genuine, loving, and sees the patients as real people. This individual is passionate about Recreation Therapy programming specifically in mental health facilities and finding interventions that are safe and impactful for mental health patients. Last year during URTA she created and started a Facebook page as a mental health RT intervention resource for RT’s (Inpatient Mental Health: Recreational Therapy Resources) that has now grown to over 850+ members with RTs from all over the entire US. This individual is such an asset to the RT community and the impact is now reaching across state lines. This Facebook page specifically, allows RTs to collaborate and share interventions that are both safe and fun.
Past Outstanding Members
2021: Alyssa Beers
2020: Heather Brown
2019: Sophie Wolfe
2018:
2017: Kami Houck
2016: Jeremiah Cox
2015: Joe Walker
Monica Dixon
Laura Bennion
2007: Steven Bell
2004: Shauna Smith
2003: Mauria Tanner
2002: Kerri Ashcroft
2001: Janeal Ford
2000: Fran Wilby
1999: Kelly Dysart
1998: Chris Forsdick
1997: Susan Call
1996: Janice Larsen
1995: Scott Dorsey
1994: Trish Jensen
1993: Sydney Post
1992: Jody Jacobs
1991: Eleanor Houston
1990: Jane Daniels
1989: Trish DeYoung
1988: Gary Ethington
1987: Sandra Negley
1986: Sandra Negley & Pas Strasser
1985: Sandra Negley & Mary Morris
2022 Distinguished Service
This award is for an individual who has helped the profession of Recreation Therapy grow through a lifetime of commitment and service.
Kami Archibald
This individual has worked for decades in consulting in long term care, and has done so much above and beyond just that. This individual has trained and mentored decades worth of TRTs, TRSs and MTRSs, including those that are considered top in their setting. This individual has taught both initially, and also continually mentoring and supervising practitioners and their programs. This individual advocates tirelessly for RT, presenting state-wide for LTC Administrators about RT and constantly correcting "Activities" to "Rec Therapy." This individual even casually approached the head of the Utah market in a nationwide company, promoting the profession and getting him on board, thus creating state- and market-wide positions to install and oversee RT in the whole State's network of care centers, elevating programming from "just activities" to meaningful, therapeutic programs. This individual also provides training and CEU's simply to be of service. This individual is an incredible, supportive mentor, always lifting those she works with to be better, expand their skills and pushes them to improve, and does it all with compassion.
Past Distinguished Service
2021: Charles Wilson
2020: Ramon Zabriskie
2019: Keith Barney
2018: Jamie Bennett
2017:
2016: Karie Swensen
Pat Park
Sandy Negley
Syd Post
Mauria Tanner
2006: Michele Beal
2004: Trish DeYoung
2003: Michele Beal
2002: Eleanor Till
2001: Jeri Claspill
2000: Janice Larsen
1999: Jackie Welch
1998: Trish DeYoung
1997: Gary Ethington
1996: Cathy Morris
1995: Connie Molitor
1994: Frankie Draidfort
1993: Trish Jensen
1992: Sandra Negley
1991: Jesse Carter
1990: Leland Slaughter
1989: Ann Stacey
1988: John Clift
1987: Boyd Call
1986: Clark Thorstenson
1985: Sydney Post
2022 Outstanding Program
This award is for an individual, group, or institution which has developed a TR program to improve the quality of life of the clients served. Criteria may include longevity, communication of ideas to others, professionalism and the education and enhancement of those involved.
Ensign Services Recreation Therapy
This program is a network of care centers across America, with a strong presence throughout Utah. The field of long-term care has been particularly difficult to work in through the last two years, and the Rec. Therapists of this company have risen to the challenge. Across all of Utah, the TRT's and TRS's of these care centers have continued to show up, adapt and elevate their programming. Though they were already providing excellent care with continual improvement, this group has banded together to share resources, brainstorm and uplift each other. There have been zoom meetings, chat groups and even free training for each other to ensure that all are supported and thriving. Furthermore, this company has embraced the recognition of Recreation Therapy over Activities and is striving to prove it to their RT's, and Admins too. Last year, the company-wide reading (for all management. not just RT) was a book supporting the use of activities and outdoors. All of this being driven by the Rec Therapists of the company, from top to bottom.
Past Outstanding Programs
2021: Crescent Senior Living- Katherine Wright
2020: BYU TR Program
2019: Behavioral Health Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
2018:
2017: Brighton Recovery Center
2016: University of Utah - Sandy Negley and Steve Bell
Copper Hills Youth Center
National Ability Center
UNI
Maple Lake Academy
Westridge Academy
2022 Community Service
This award recognizes an individual who has helped and promoted Recreation Therapy although he or she is not a Recreation Therapist. This may have been done through volunteerism, legislative or policy support, offering programs, or other significant contribution.
Zac Bramble
This individual has done a superb job in his legislative work to maintain RT licensure. This individual has worked really hard to understand what RT is, where RT professionals work, the RT process, and the amazing services RT professionals provide. From there, this individual has made a special effort to educate our legislators about the important work we do and the importance of protecting our clients, their constituents. This individual has held countless meetings with stakeholders and kept URTA leadership informed every step of the way. This individual has supported URTA and the RT profession in the State of Utah in so many ways, and we are so grateful for all of the contributions this past year. Thank you for caring about the work we do and spreading the RT love up on Capitol Hill!
Past Community Service
2021: Ross VanVranken
2020: Dr. Kent Roundy
2019: Malissa Morrell
2018:
2017:
2016: BYU Therapeutic Recreation Club
Salt Lake County Adaptive
National Ability Center
Senator Gene Davis
Dirk Anjewierden
Therapy Animals of Utah
Intermountain Therapy Animals
2004: UT Healthcare Association and Sen. Gene Davis
2003: Shawna Peterson
2002: Terri Danburg
2001: Snowbird
2000: Intermountain Therapy Animals
1999: Brent Armstrong
1998: Dr. Paul Whitehead
1997: Dr. L. Dale Cruise
1996: Diana Taylor
1995: Larry Garlock
1994: Maxine Peterson
1993: Alma Heaton
1992: Rep. Gene Davis & Rep. Brent Haymond
1991: Dave Fairhurst
1990: Glenda Solomon
1989: Bill Peterson
1988: Mary Pylley
1987: Herb Russell
1986: Senator Richard Carling
1985: Camp Kostopulos