ATRA Awards

The Annual ATRA Awards program recognizes many of the individuals who have worked diligently to advance the profession of therapeutic recreation. ATRA would like to congratulate the following individuals who were recognized at the Awards ceremony in Orlando, FL during the ATRA Annual conference.

The Distinguished Fellow Award recognizes exceptional accomplishments within the field of TR and is the highest award granted by ATRA. The ATRA Distinguished Fellow Award for 2006 was presented to Pamela Wilson. Wilson was recognized for considerable contributions to the field of recreational therapy through her many professional involvements, most notably her past leadership in ATRA. Pam has served the Recreational Therapy profession for more than two decades. In the realm of credentialing she has served as the Chair of the North Carolina Recreational Therapy Certification Board. She was instrumental in the successful State North Carolina Recreational Therapy Licensure legislation. Pam has the distinct recognition of serving as the first chair of the State R.T. Licensure Board. ATRA as a National organization has been able to successfully fulfill its mission because of the financial management that Pam Wilson brought to the Association as Treasurer. In addition to her leadership on the ATRA Board of Director’s, Pam has served with the ATRA Public Policy Team, serves as LEADERSHIP ATRA faculty member and mentor and has served as a past chair and long standing trustee of the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation. She has modeled the highest level of personal dedication and commitment not only to the association, and the profession, but she has done so with her unique brand of southern charm and elegance.

The Outstanding Professional Award is the second most prestigious award of ATRA. It was presented to, Diane Baumann CTRS. Baumann was recognized for her outstanding work in the area of public policy and her lengthy history of leadership and service to ATRA and her local chapter RTI. On the state level, she has served as President of the Recreation Therapists of Indiana (RTI) and coordinated several of the State Conferences for RTI. On the national scene, she has been extremely involved with the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA). ATRA positions held by Diane include: Chapter Affiliate Council chair, State Public Policy Team member, Federal Public Policy Team member, Board Member-at-Large, and Treasurer (2001-05). Currently, she co-chairs the Federal Public Policy Team – as she has done since 2001.

The Frank N. Brasile Clinician of the Year Award recognizes the recipient's outstanding contribution to Therapeutic Recreation through creative and innovative programming in a clinical setting, promotion of the profession, and service to developing professionals. This year The Frank N. Brasile Clinician of the Year Award was presented to Heather J. Sedletzeck, along with a monetary award by the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation (ATRF) for supporting students and fellow professionals. She was the first Medicaid waiver provider in the state of Indiana and has continually provided leadership on this initiative. Heather has grown her private practice over the last couple of years opening her own business and now employs recreational therapists all over the state of Indiana providing services to consumers on Medicaid Waivers.

The Member of the Year Award is presented to one member of ATRA for outstanding contributions to the organization. The Member of the Year Award for 2006 was presented to Betsy Best Martini, CTRS for significant efforts in the area of geriatrics. She has presented numerous conference sessions on balance and coordination for older adults and on exercise for frail elders. In 2003 Betsy co-authored the text Exercise for Frail Elders. Betsy has also shown her ongoing dedication to enhancing professional practice for clients who have dementia. Betsy was a contributing author to ATRA’s Dementia Practice Guideline manual and training. And Betsy is currently serving as the co-leader of the Geriatric Treatment Network.

The Excellence in Education Award is awarded to a clinical agency or institution of higher education that has distinguished itself through outstanding contribution(s) to the TR profession. The Excellence in Education was presented to Grand Valley State University for their efforts to advance the profession and promote student involvement in professional activities. Grand Valley State University is making a unique mark for itself. As one peer commented, “what has been so impressive (about this program) is the amount of direct application this program provides to the students”. When the students graduate from GCSU they have over 1000 hours of practical experience. Dr. Teresa Beck and Dr. Kari Kensinger have created a program with depth and conviction, as well as a very strong ATRA presence.

ATRA Certificates of Recognition Awarded for meritorious service that promotes, develops, or implements innovations, expansions, or improvements to TR programs, services, and education. The 2006 Certificates of Recognition were presented to members Dr. Janet Funderburk and Dr. Kari Kensinger. Dr. Funderburk has ably led the Academic Affairs team for the past two years and was the co-chair of the committee for one year. She also spearheaded the efforts to have the Annual in Therapeutic Recreation included in the Medline abstracting service. Dr. Kensinger was the Treatment Network coordinator; Student Team Coordinator and she served as President of NART in 1998. Recently she has co-chaired and chaired the Student Development Team and helped develop the student institute, take a student to dinner, and the ATRA mentoring project.

ATRA President Bryan McCormack recognized two individuals with Presidential awards. Receiving recognition for their support of Recreational Therapy were Susan McGhee and Martha Judge. Dr. McGhee has been teaching in the field for over 20 years and has made significant contributions to the education of practitioners in the field. She continuously encourages student involvement in professional associations at the state and national levels. During the last 37 years Martha Judge has worked with some of the most difficult client groups, including individuals who are homeless and those dealing with substance abuse issues. Another of Martha’s amazing and unparalleled accomplishments is her attendance at each and every ATRA Mid-Year and Annual Conference since our beginning in 1984.

The ATRA Chapter of the Year Award is given to an outstanding chapter affiliate of ATRA. Two ATRA Chapter of the Year Awards were presented to the Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association (ASTRA) and Iowa Therapeutic Recreation Association (ITRA) for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the profession and their support of the ATRA Medicare Project and the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation. The ASTRA legislative agenda is commendable, through the efforts of their Legislative Chair, Dawna Sterner, ASTRA presented a statement to Arizona Special Education Advisory Panel, ASTRA met with the Division of Developmental Disabilities to review regulations and discuss proper verbiage, ASTRA held a legislative action update at the Spring 2006 conference to educate members and encourage involvement, and ASTRA held a Day in the District in Arizona this past August. As the Chapter slogan states, the Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association reflects the SPIRIT OF THE SOUTHWEST and a great example of what a motivated ATRA chapter can accomplish. In the past year, the ITRA membership jumped from 90 to 200 members. Additionally, ATRA membership among ITRA members has increased from 8 members 3 years ago to over 40 members today. A major accomplishment completed by the chapter in the past two years resulted from extensive contact and communication with Iowa Senator Grassley, through the diligent efforts of ITRA leader Doug Boleyn. Senator Grassley, who serves as chair of the Senate Finance Committee, signed on as a major supporter to ATRA’s Medicare project.

Past Recipients Archive