Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Robin Hall: A Lifetime of Giving

When Robin Hall first met Charles Brightbill and Allen Sapora, he was inspired by their holistic vision of parks and recreation, and he knew that a major in Recreation, Sport and Tourism was the right fit for his future. Improving the life and health of a society through an active and community-driven parks department was the focus of Hall’s 35+ year career as Director of the Urbana Park District. Throughout his work, he incorporated arts and inclusivity into his approach, and was adept at leveraging networks to support development. Upon his retirement from the Urbana Parks District, he was swiftly recruited to serve as the Director of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources (ORPR). Bill Stewart, Interim Department Head, commented “Under Robin’s leadership at ORPR, we became known for our research efforts at “building healthy communities” – the slogan developed for ORPR during his leadership tenure.” Now retired (for a second time), Hall continues to serve as a force for the department. Beyond his own generous gifts, he continues to employ similar ideas that made him a successful parks director, such as building networks to inspire giving. Discussing the impact of RST on his life, he said, “This department changed my life.” Thank you, Robin, for the immense impact you’ve had on the department!

Coming Full Circle – Paragon Marketing Group Represents Opportunity

The Paragon Marketing Group Scholarship was presented to three outstanding recipients in the past year. The scholarship recognizes students who consistently demonstrate strong leadership abilities and an upstanding character. One recipient, Aniyha Jones, said, “This award truly means a lot to me and it’s a full-circle moment. During my freshman year at Illinois, Paragon was the first company to believe in me and provide me with an internship. There are so many students who attend Illinois, so to be chosen out of a very selective process, I’m honored!” Aniyha’s future goals include writing and producing sports documentaries that tell powerful stories never told before. During her time at Illinois, Aniyha started a podcast, and served as the host of Illini Sports Night—a student-led sports broadcast where she interviews prominent athletes on campus. Learn more about how scholarships impacted RST students.

Monika Stodolska named Brightbill/Sapora Professor in Recreation

Dr. Stodolska’s recent research examines the experiences of refugees who fled to Poland after being displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Through interviews with refugees, hosts and volunteers, Stodolska is investigating how the refugees adapt to their new lives, the role of leisure in helping them deal with war-related trauma and the Polish population’s response to the crisis. “At the end of our careers, we won’t be remembered by the number of papers or the books that we’ve written, but by the impact we’ve had on people and whether we’ve used this privilege of professorship to leave the world a slightly better place,” she said. Learn more about Dr. Stodolska and her research.