Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association

ASTRA Awards

ASTRA will seek nominations annually for the below awards:

Recreation Therapist of the Year,
Outstanding Professional Award,
Institution or Organization Award, and
ASU/NAU Student Recognition Award.

In the event no nominations are received,

the ASTRA Board of Directors can select a worthy recipient or choose not to present the award.

ASTRA has traditionally presented each award recipient with a plaque. At the ASTRA event of the current boards choosing, the ASTRA award recipients will be announced and presented with the associated award. In addition, recipients have been presented with a gift, such as trinkets, gift cards, and/or registration waivers for a future ASTRA conference/event. Gifts are provided at the discretion of the board.

The ASTRA Board of Directors are encouraged to submit the annual award recipients for consideration in the ATRA Annual Awards program. The following highlights the requirements for each award.

ASTRA Recreation Therapist of the Year Award

This award will recognize the recipient’s outstanding contribution to Recreational Therapy through creative and innovative programming in the clinical setting, promotion of the profession, and/or service to the profession.

Qualifications:

Active member of ASTRA
At least 2 of the following criteria:

1. Minimum of 3 years’ full-time employment in the field with evidence of creative and/or innovative programming in a clinical setting,

2. Promotion of RT through supervision of student interns and/or mentoring interns or new graduates, and

3. Evidence of promotion of the profession.

ASTRA Outstanding Professional Award

This award is the most prestigious award presented by the organization. This award recognizes the recipient’s outstanding contribution to Recreational Therapy leadership, demonstrated leadership within the profession, and/or contribution to the advancement of the profession through professional behaviors.

Qualifications:

Active member of ASTRA
At least 3 of the following criteria:

1. A minimum of 5 years’ full-time employment in the field with evidence of distinctive leadership in the promotion, organization, and development of new and/or unique RT programming,

2. Contributions to the RT profession on a national, state, and/or local level,

3. Evidence of Leadership within the profession either as an elected official of a position within an RT association or as a RT association committee member, and

4. Participation in RT professional research, publications, and/or presentations.

ASTRA Institution or Organization Award

This award will recognize any agency, institution, and/or organization whose major purpose is to advocate, promote, and/or provide RT services to people with disabilities, including any public, private, and/or voluntary agency.

Qualifications:

Promotion of RT services at any level,
Development of new and/or innovated RT services/techniques,
Sponsorship or support of RT related educational opportunities,
Preparing or sponsorship of RT related legislation, and/or
Supportive of RT related research.

ASTRA Student Recognition Award

Qualifications:

A member of ASTRA,
Must be a Junior or Senior enrolled in the ASU's Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Academic Program or a student enrolled in the NAU graduate certificate with at least a 2.5 grade point average or higher,
Must have ASU or NAU TR Instructor support, and
Must submit a maximum of 500-word essay describing the student’s academic/professional goals and achievements that demonstrate professional promise and commitment to the Therapeutic Recreation Profession

Directions for Submitting Nominations:

You must be current ASTRA member to nominate an individual. Click Here to Join
Log in (icon below) and complete the appropriate form available in the Member's Only area on the Awards Nomination page and
Be prepared to respond to questions associated with the required qualifications for consideration and provide a 500-word essay on why you are nominating the individual for an award.