Awards and Scholarships

Charles K. Brightbill Memorial Scholarship

The Charles K. Brightbill Memorial Scholarship is the highest award given to an undergraduate student in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. It is awarded to an RST major who has demonstrated outstanding academic merit.

Chicago Knight Life Charities Scholarship

The Chicago Knight Life Charities Scholarship is presented to undergraduate students majoring in Recreation, Sport and Tourism who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability, entrepreneurial drive and spirit, RST community involvement, and potential as a future RST professional.

George and Mary Lowrey Scholarship

The George and Mary Lowrey Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, service and merit. Outstanding scholarship is determined by the overall GPA and demonstrating enthusiasm and commitment to classroom participation and projects. Service can include active involvement with student associations or involvement with national, state, or campus associations and activities engaged in the delivery of leisure services. Merit implies that this award is presented to a student who has demonstrated strong moral and ethical behavior. The award will be presented to students from each of the three Concentration Areas (Recreation, Sport and Tourism).

Paragon Marketing Group Scholarship

The Paragon Marketing Group Scholarship is presented to an undergraduate student who is a freshman, sophomore or junior in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. The recipient shall (a) have financial need, (b) maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, (c) demonstrate a commitment to values of diversity and inclusion, (d) exhibit and consistently demonstrate strong leadership abilities and upstanding character, and (e) be a full-time student. All applicants must prepare a personal statement (e.g. 300 words) that demonstrates a commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion.

Jesse “Tony” Clements Scholarship

Campus Recreation and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, proudly established the Jesse “Tony” Clements Scholarship to recognize his extraordinary personal contributions and professional accomplishments; to perpetuate the impact of his unyielding commitment to supportive relationships; and to honor his unique legacy at the University of Illinois, in Champaign-Urbana, and around the globe. Recipients of the Clements Scholarship should be employed by or have a leadership role at Campus Recreation and be majoring in recreation.

Joan Braswell Scholarship

The Joan Braswell Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student in the department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. Preference is given to students studying Recreation.

John Bruce Capel Memorial Scholarship

The John Bruce Capel Scholarship is presented to a sophomore or junior in Recreation, Sport and Tourism who has demonstrated outstanding ability and potential. Capel graduated in 1966 from the Department of Leisure Studies and was killed in Vietnam on May 2, 1966.

Margaret K. and Edward W. Harvey Scholarship in Parks and Recreation

The Margaret K. and Edward W. Harvey Scholarship in Parks and Recreation is awarded to an undergraduate student in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism who graduated from a high school in the State of Illinois. Preference is given to students who have a concentration in Parks and Recreation Management. Recipients shall submit a statement on how their work could impact the State of Illinois after graduation.

Triple S Scholarship Fund

This scholarship was established by Sarah B. Nemeth to honor her three favorite professors (Dr. Kimberly Shinew, Dr. William Stewart and Dr. Monika Stodolska, whose last names all start with “S”) in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences. This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior pursuing a concentration in Recreation and will be selected on the basis of financial need and merit, which may be evidenced by outstanding ability, potential, and commitment to the field of recreation.

Allen V. Sapora Research Award (for Graduate Student Research)

The Allen V. Sapora Research Award (for Graduate Student Research) will be awarded to masters and Ph.D. students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism to support original research in the leisure field not undertaken as a class project. This does not have to be dissertation/thesis research; it can be any research project for which the student has a leadership role. Include a brief research proposal with budget and references limited to two pages (double-spaced) as part of the award application. 

Charles K. Brightbill Memorial Scholarship

The Charles K. Brightbill Memorial Scholarship is the highest award given to a graduate student in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. It is awarded to a Recreation, Sport and Tourism graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding academic merit.

Christine Ziebarth Howe Graduate Student Award

The Christine Ziebarth Howe Graduate Student Award is awarded to recognize a doctoral student who demonstrates academic excellence. Financial need or “extenuating circumstances” may also be considered as criteria for selecting the award recipient.

J. Robert and Linda L. Rossman Graduate Research Fund 

The J. Robert and Linda L. Rossman Graduate Research Fund (for Graduate Student Research) supports graduate students within the Department of Recreation Sport and Tourism, specifically for their dissertation and thesis research. Preference shall be given to students researching the antecedents of recreation, sport and tourism experiences, the phenomenology of participating in them, and the short-term and long-term outcomes of them for individuals and society. Include a brief research proposal with budget and references limited to two pages as part of the award application.

Mary and Duke Regnier Scholarship

The Mary and Duke Regnier Scholarship will be presented to outstanding online and on-campus masters students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism studying leisure or recreation. Scholarships will be awarded to students who are in good standing and can demonstrate need for financial assistance.