Lauren Barnes, an outdoor adventure leadership major in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, won the Wilderness Education Association Student Leader Award.
Wilderness Education Association Student Leader Award Criteria
"Student leader has successfully completed a National Standards Program and is actively involved in the outdoor profession."
Lauren Barnes completed her first WEA course with Ithaca College in the North Cascades in Washington State and completed her Outdoor Leader Certification requirements after completing a teaching assistantship with Chris Pelchat in fall 2007. Currently, Barnes is working in the snowboarding industry.
"Student Leader has contributed significantly to the success of the WEA within her or his Affiliate."
After completing her Outdoor Leader Certification, Barnes has continued to help Mr. Pelchat conduct WEA courses on the Ithaca campus. In January of 2008 Ms. Barnes was an apprentice on a WEA Steward course in Everglades National Park. She will also be apprenticing a course with Mr. Pelchat in Olympic National Park this coming May.
"Student leader has been recommended by a minimum of two WEA professional members and one student member."
Barnes was nominated by Mary Williams, executive director of the WEA; Jim Lustig, director of Aztec Adventures at San Diego State University; and Aiko Yushino, a Ph.D. student at Indiana University.
"Student leader has benefited the WEA through volunteer service (conference, journal, etc.)."
Lauren Barnes participated in the service crew at the National Conference of Outdoor Leadership in San Diego in 2008.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090223180832305