The UC San Diego Recreation department is privileged to work with so many amazing students each year. Professional staff take time to develop, lead, mentor, and work with over 500 student employees, and they often learn from the very students they supervise. To celebrate the amazing work our student staff has accomplished, the Recreation Leadership Council (RLC), the department’s student board, put on one heck of a party!

This year marked the 3rd annual RECapalooza, yet there was something else in the atmosphere as over 150 students and professional staff gathered at the Main Gym Natatorium to celebrate the accomplishments of the Triton Recreation team. Attendees were able to take advantage of lawn games, an inflatable obstacle course, and some friendly inner-tube water polo competition. Music, tacos, yearbook awards, and a nautical theme added to the care-free vibe. After stomachs were full, everyone gathered for the awards ceremony. The RLC awarded Ashley Nicoll, Jack Cowan, Daniel Salinas, Sean Callaghan, Nicholas Guzman, and Caleb Oates with Honorable Mentioncertificates for their contributions to the department. Next, Ulysses Villanueva – Maintenance, Alenoush Aslanian – Aquatics, Dayyan Sisson – Marketing, and Shannon McConnell – Sports Clubs were honored with the Employee of the Yearaward for their initiative, work ethic, passion, mentorship, and desire to better the program areas in which they worked. In addition, Emily Kunselman and Logan Laubach received the Outstanding Leadershipaward for their hard work and dedication to their program areas, the department, and the RLC. Lastly, as the sun went down, the event ended with ice cream sandwiches, photos, and a fun raffle.

A special thanks goes out to the members of the RLC and professional staff who made this event possible. The opportunity to celebrate the students is not one to be remised. As seniors received their Recreation stoles, one could not help but reflect on all the great things they’ve done, and the amazing things they’re going to accomplish in their careers and communities. Congratulations to the class of 2018! We look forward to hearing from and seeing many of our Triton Rec grads in the future.

For more information on employment opportunities within the Recreation department feel free to visit our website: https://recreation.ucsd.edu/.