02/20/2018
National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day, an annual event that takes place on Thursday, Feb. 22, offers members of the campus community an opportunity to try new activities and the chance to win prizes.
“Since the first year worked so well, we’ve continued the same pattern each year which helps to make the event such a success,” said Eve Mascoli, assistant director for facilities and aquatics at SUNY Cortland. She has organized the day for Recreational Sports at SUNY Cortland for the past three years, since the construction of the Student Life Center.
“Student and staff turnout increases each year, and more and more SUNY Cortland faculty, staff and their families are signing up to take advantage of all that the Student Life Center has to offer.”
This year’s event features a day of free activities including fitness classes, tournaments, equipment rentals and T-shirt giveaways.
A number of prizes will be raffled off, such as free massages, free group memberships, wireless Bluetooth headphones and an Amazon Echo Dot. On the day of the event, each participant will receive one raffle ticket. However, some listed events on the day’s agenda offer staff and students a chance to earn extra raffle tickets, increasing one’s chances of winning a major prize.
For more information about the day’s scheduled events or the raffle prizes being given away, visit the College’s Student Life Center page and select one day events.
“Everyone within the department works diligently to not only make this event such a success, but also maintain a fun, safe, and proficient environment at the Student Life Center, year-round,” said Mascoli.
Since the Student Life Center opened in 2015, 835,202 people have used the facility. In Mascoli’s first year coordinating the event, more than 3,000 people attended National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day. They were eager to participate in some fun activities but didn’t realize they’d have a learning experience as well.
On Feb. 22, 1950, Dr. William Wasson brought together 20 intramural directors from 11 black colleges and universities to relay his knowledge and research on recreation within colleges, according to a National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) article.
NIRSA uses this day to honor Wasson’s achievements and promote healthy habits and wellbeing.
Mascoli wants to educate a broader public and target people outside of the recreation field in hopes of sparking more national interest.
“It’s good advertising to show people what recreational sports offers and it also gives people the opportunity to try different things,” she said. “Staff love it too and you’d be surprised what people will do for free prizes.”
“I enjoy putting on the event and I also thinks it’s pretty amazing that since its inception, National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day now has over 5,000 institutions celebrating it nationwide.”
The College’s event is sponsored by the Summit Federal Credit Union, which has donated $500 each year.
Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Hannah Bistocchi
