Student Honored by Virginia Recreation Sports Association

October 08, 2013

Jeff Branson

Jeff Branson, a facility manager at Old Dominion University's Student Recreation Center (SRC), has received a statewide student award for his work in the recreation field.

Branson, 21, a senior industrial technology major from Prince George, Va., received the Virginia Recreation Sports Association (VRSA) Student Award of Merit at the VRSA State Workshop last month at George Mason University.

The award is recognition of Branson's day-to-day performance on the ODU campus, as well as his work with VRSA and the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).

Branson has been involved in campus recreation since arriving at ODU. In addition to his work at the SRC, he is founder and committee chair for the NIRSA Engagement Committee. "This committee works to gain awareness of the opportunities that are available for students and professionals within the campus recreation field at the state and national level," Branson said.

VRSA's Award of Merit is presented annually, in recognition of exceptional performance in the recreation field in areas of pioneering leadership, continual professional development and growth through volunteerism.

In the presentation to Branson, the organization noted that he demonstrated several of the performance characteristics VRSA looks for in its Award of Merit recipient, citing the nominating letter sent on his behalf for the award.

Mike Clark, coordinator of facility operations with SRC, wrote in the supporting letter: "This student's dedication to our department has gone unquestioned as he has always displayed exceptional customer service to all members, in turn becoming an integral part of the department's customer service focus."

Branson was specifically cited for the creation of the NIRSA Engagement Committee on the ODU campus. He "is constantly promoting NIRSA, its mission and his desire to succeed in this profession. He's recruiting other students for the committee and organized the group's first event a few weeks ago," Clark said.