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UPCOMING EVENTS
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION ADMINISTRATION
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Friday, November 13, 2009
Anniversary Conference-Best Practices In Recreation: Voices from Outstanding Alumni
California State University, Fresno Henry Madden Library
1 P.M. to 5 P.M.
.4 CEU's pending and will be available for purchase on site.
You do not have to be an alum to attend the conference.
Please join us for an afternoon of professional development.
Anniversary Dinner & Dance-Celebrating our Golden Anniversary
Piccadilly Inn University 4961 North Cedar Avenue
6 P.M. No-Host Social / 6:30 P.M. Dinner, Dance and Silent Auction
Visit the Department of Recreation Administration's Facebook Page.
And join Fresno State Recreation Administration Alumni.
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2009 OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD
Dr. Andrew Hoff
Dr. Hoff earned a bachelor's degree in Geography in 1973 and a second major in Recreation Administration in 1975. In 1978 he earned a master's in Recreation. He has been a Fresno State Bulldog for a long time. One could also say that being a bulldog runs in his family as his daughter Shelley and son David are current students and his wife Diana is also an alum!
Dr. Hoff served as City Manager and Director of Parks, Recreation, Buildings and Grounds for the city of Mendota, and he also was the Executive Director of Windstar Leisure Services. He completed his Ph.D. in Recreation and Leisure at the University of Utah in 1989 and returned to Fresno State to teach part-time and then full time.
Dr. Hoff taught the very popular Rec 80 course taking students on a variety of trips to connect them with outdoor recreation opportunities in our region. He has amazing knowledge of the National Parks and Forests and is an avid outdoorsman having backpacked Mt. Whitney. In addition to teaching, Dr. Hoff was actively involved in faculty governance on campus serving on numerous committees and task forces. He served as President of California Society of Park and Recreation Educators, and published articles in the Journal of Leisure Research and the Journal of Recreation and Parks Administration.
The breadth and depth of his experiences, coupled with his expertise in leisure and human behavior, led to the creation of the Life+Work+Links program that focused on life and work balance for faculty and staff at Fresno State. Dr. Hoff's appreciation for quality of life is evident in his devotion his family, and in his active pursuit of many hobbies including car restoration. He was instrumental in establishing the annual faculty and student volleyball game where the faculty had prevailed as champions for years. The Andy Hoff Invitational Volleyball Tournament will always have a very special place in our hearts. Dr. Hoff is one who truly lives leisure philosophy.
Dr. Hoff moved up the ranks serving as the program's coordinator for six years before becoming Associate Dean in the College of Health and Human Services. His insight, communication skills, and keen ability to build a sense of community have served the College of Health and Human Services well since 1999. In fact, he had done such a fine job that in 2005 he was requested to serve as interim Dean of the College of Engineering, which resulted in the successful revitalization of what is now known as the Lyles College of Engineering. In 2007 he returned to the College of Health and Human Services as Associate Dean.
This brings us to the present. So you might be asking yourself, "So what's next for this alum?" Dr. Hoff's experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student, faculty member, department chair, and administrator provide him with remarkable insight into the needs, interests, challenges and opportunities that exist on a university campus. As such, we are delighted to learn that Dr. Hoff will be serving as the next Dean of College of Health and Human Services effective July, 2009. We are so very proud to call him one of our own!
CPRS DISTRICT VII Scholarships
2009 OUTSTANDING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Andrew Watson
In 2004, Andrew began working as an operational assistant at Kongeparken, one of the largest amusement parks in Norway. He also began pursuing his college career, during which time he began his involvement in student activities. Upon arriving at Fresno State in Fall 2005, he continued his campus involvement with USU productions, as special event coordinator, with Vintage Days, and through Greek life. With USU Productions he coordinated a number of events, including the Cotton from Blue to Green tour where students collected denim items for recycling into insulation materials. Fresno State collected 2611 items, 1200 more items then the next school. While at Fresno State he also worked at the Savemart Center and was a facilitator for the EDGE ropes course.
Andrew has been involved professionally since his arrival on campus as a member of several professional organizations. He has attended several conferences related to recreation management, challenge courses, and special event management including CPRS, ACCT, IAAPA, and CIC.
While at Fresno State Andrew has continued to work part time for a Norwegian amusement company, Lund Gruppen Arrangementer (LGA), as a project manager. The company hosts large scale events such as music festivals for 10 000 students, fairs for 40,000 people, and other large concerts with some of the world's top artists. With this company, he also designed the first ropes course in Norway. He is currently completing his internship LGA and is pleased to share that he just signed a full time contract as senior project manager for the company!
2009 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Soynia Cosby
Soynia has been actively involved on the Fresno State campus since her arrival on campus in Fall 2006. She has been active in the Leaders of Tomorrow program, the University Student Union (USU) Board of Directors, and USU Productions. Through these organizations she has coordinated activities and special events to enhance campus life.
Soynia has also been active in serving the community. She has volunteered with a number of diverse non-profit agencies including the Girl Scouts of America, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Center, and the Saint Community Church of God in Christ. Currently she is volunteering with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central California and has just received their Rookie of the Year award. She was one of just five people honored out of the hundreds of volunteers who work at Ronald McDonald House.