UT RecSports

44 years of service. Countless student lives shaped. One legendary Longhorn. 🤘

Join us in celebrating former Intramural Sports Director Bob Childress, who was recently awarded the 2026 Arno Nowotny Medal. This prestigious award recognizes retired Division of Student Affairs staff who have rendered exceptional, meritorious service to students and the University.

From creating the nation’s longest-running campus recreation student survey to helping establish a student employee scholarship program, Bob’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of RecSports.

Read more about his inspiring legacy in our latest blog post: https://bit.ly/3RTCMPz

Celebrating the Team RecSports Class of 2026! 🎓🤘

We are so proud of our 127 Team RecSports graduates and the incredible impact they’ve made during their time on the Forty Acres. From leading adventure trips to keeping our facilities running smoothly, these student leaders have truly embodied what it means to be a Longhorn.

In our latest blog, we spotlight 11 of our seniors from across the department as they reflect on their journeys and share what’s next for them. Meet these soon-to-be Texas Exes here: https://utrecsports.medium.com/team-recsports-class-of-2026-spotlights-022b8b05f0ce

It’s no secret that our people are the heart of everything we do. This year, we’re highlighting six incredible staff members who were honored with awards from across the Forty Acres, including the President’s Office and the Division of Student Affairs!

We couldn’t be prouder of how these individuals represent RecSports every single day. 🤘

Pictured from left to right:

Kennedy Grigsby, Sr. Administrative Human Resources Associate
2026 President’s Exemplary Service Award

Ryan Becerra, Sr. Software Developer/Analyst
2026 Outstanding Staff Award

Cecilia Lopez Cardenas, Associate Director - Communications
2025–26 Texas Parents Staff Merit Award

Three of our team members were also honored with the 2026 President’s Staff Service Award:
- Rhonda Cox, Sr. Assistant Director - Membership and Guest Services (25 years)
- E.J. Patterson, Associate Director - Facilities (20 years)
- Manny Torrez, Maintenance Worker II (20 years)

Read about these award winners in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4cQqzDz

Our student employees are the heartbeat of RecSports, and this year, we’re celebrating 18 exceptional individuals who received RecSports scholarships in recognition of their work. These student leaders, who represent almost all areas of the department, make everything we do possible.

We are also incredibly grateful to our donors. Thanks to your generosity, we awarded $64,000 in scholarships this year! 🤘

The 2026 recipients are:
- Aaditya Krishna
- Ana Martinez
- Brady Grennier
- Bridgette Marné Bordeaux
- Cameron Pratt
- Christian Torrez
- Chyloe Vargas-Booth
- Corrie Lise Jarrett
- Dom Martinez
- Emma Hunt
- Jocelyn Lee
- Kelly Tang
- Lilly Ojeda
- Rachel Cottrell
- Sarah Johnson
- Tanvi Agrawal
- Taylor Johnson
- Zoe Fisher

Read more about each of our recipients in our latest blog: https://medium.com//meet-the-2026-recsports-student-employee-scholarship-recipients-938abd99962e

Excellence in action. 👏 Help us congratulate our four finalists for the 2026 President’s Student Employee of the Year award!

We’re so lucky to have Christy, Kaleb, Rachel, and Zoe on our team. Check out the full story on their contributions: https://bit.ly/4tSLc7K

We're proud to be the featured campus rec department in the latest edition of Campus Rec Magazine!

Read the story and get the scoop on how we continue to innovate to enhance the participant experience at Texas. We're so grateful for every member of Team RecSports who makes it all possible. 🤘

Good news — the March/April 2026 issue of Campus Rec Magazine is here!

In this edition's cover story, discover what makes Recreational Sports (RecSports) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) truly remarkable — it's dedicated team, century-long intramural history and creative revenue streams. With seven recreation facilities amounting to over 400,000 square feet and 40 acres of outdoor recreation space, the physical attributes of RecSports are impressive — but the people truly make up the heart of the department.

Plus, don't miss the rest of the content from this issue:
➡️ A Q&A with Bryan Haunert from Illinois State University.
➡️ Campus rec staffing strategies to help build teams that last.
➡️ How departments are structuring fitness certification training models.
➡️ A look into the education for the 2026 Campus Rec Leadership Summit.
➡️ How UMass Boston's ice-skating program turned into a campus rec staple.
➡️ And more on facility development, operations, leadership and staff development.

Check out the full issue now: https://hubs.la/Q0462-f90