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.

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.

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.

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!