The Virginia Recreational Sports Department recently received recognition as a National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Creative Excellence Award recipient.

Virginia Tech Recreational Sports brings home a first place award this year with a student publication. The 9th Annual Bench Press Competition poster created by Kristin Claeys of Sterling, Va., a senior double majoring in visual communication design and in studio art, both in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, receives the honor. The publication is used to promote the 9th Annual Bench Press Competition special event to be held on Feb. 27. The publication can be found in various facilities across campus.

“I’m excited that rec sports received a first place award for my design,” says Claeys. “The recognition of the bench press competition poster displays the passion we put into our work. We want to display creative visuals that attract students to come out to our events.”

The Department of Recreational Sports also received a third place award in the category of Student Digital for the Intramural Volleyball Champions highlight video. This is the first year Virginia Tech has entered a video into the Student Digital category.

Recognition goes to student videographer, Hunter Hall of Carlsbad, Calif., a junior majoring in cinema studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Hall used a variety of techniques to capture the Foxridge Apartment Intramural Volleyball Championships at their best. The video highlights the Championship’s events and competition. It is available for viewing online.

“Intramural Championship Night videos are my favorite to film and edit. The events give me a lot of material to work with, allowing me to produce the most entertaining video I can,” says Hall. “I am pleased with third place, but I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish next year.”

For the fourth consecutive year, recreational sports also received credit for their 2009-2010 Calendar, this year in the form of honorable mention. Approximately 6,000 calendars are distributed during freshman and transfer orientations, and other events held around the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg communities.

The calendar is a comprehensive look at the department and highlights the numerous special events planned throughout the year. In addition, the calendar gives the Virginia Tech business community an opportunity to offer students, faculty, and staff coupons and discounts, as well as to promote the department.

Recreational Sports’ student graphic designer, Claeys, designed the calendar to facilitate marketing for recreational sports and all of the department’s program areas. Natalie Sherbak of Chesapeake, Va., a 2009 graduate with a degree in health promotion and a former recreational sports marketing coordinator also contributed to the creation of the calendar and marketing pieces.

The Creative Excellence Awards are designed to recognize the innovation and creativity of NIRSA members and acknowledge their outstanding accomplishments in marketing recreational sports, fitness, facilities, and programs. All of the Department of Recreational Sports entries can be found online.

Virginia Tech Recreational Sports will be recognized at the 2010 NIRSA Annual Conference and Recreational Sports Expo in Anaheim, Calif., in April.

Anyone wanting to be a part of next year’s calendar, should contact Cathy Kropff.

Written by Hannah Wilson, of Danville, Va. Wilson is a junior majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

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