Every year on February 22, NIRSA members celebrate Recreational Sports & Fitness Day in commemoration of NIRSA’s founding date. Rec Day is an occasion to remember when Dr. William Wasson brought 20 intramural professionals from 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities together to share his research on collegiate recreation. February 22, 1950 was the start of NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, an association beloved by so many today.

What began as 11 HBCU schools coming together to discuss intramurals is today a phenomenon all about supporting the idea that recreation on campus matters and has value. Here are some glimpses at incredible #RecDay 2024 festivities from campuses across the country!

Ole Miss students and campus rec staff shared all the ways and places that they recreate:

Youngstown State University offered prizes for all participants in their bench press competition to celebrate Rec Day and YSU Campus Rec Director Ryan McNicholas hosted a social media challenge.

Moraine Valley Community College celebrated Rec Day with ping pong, hula hoops, spike ball, Jenga, soccer, football, bean bags, a plank race and dodgeball!

Princeton University Campus Recreation held a Cardboard Canoe Race!

Weber State University Campus Recreation celebrated with giveaways.

Georgia Tech helps students find their fit and celebrates Rec Day!

The University of Tennessee Knoxville offered ice skating and mini golf!

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A post shared by UTK RecSports (@utrecsports)

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley celebrated Rec Day over 3 days. Here’s a look at just one of their many activities – Rock Climbing Challenge!

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Warrior Recreation Center celebrated their first Rec Day with prizes, sporting events, and a photo booth!

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A post shared by WRC (@warriorreccenter)

George Mason University celebrated with non-stop activities, challenges, and more!

Georgia Southern University Campus Recreation enjoyed free pizza, archery, cornhole, tug of war, games, giveaways, and music!

This is just a glimpse at some of the great things campus rec departments did to make Rec Day an unforgettable experience for the students on their campuses! Check out the #RecDay2024 hashtag across  Instagram, Facebook, and  X, formerly Twitter, for more examples of departments taking advantage of Rec Day 2024 to get moving in celebration of what Dr. William Wasson started back in 1950.

Thank you!

Thanks to our participating schools! Don’t see your school on the list? Let us know!

  • Binghamton University
  • Boise State University
  • Butler University
  • Carsons t-shirts
  • East Tennessee State Campus Rec
  • Gannon University
  • Georgia State University
  • Indiana State University
  • Kennesaw State University
  • Lone Star College – Montgomery
  • Mount St. Mary’s University
  • Neumann University
  • Nichols College
  • Oxford College of Emory University
  • Pomona-Pitzer
  • Prairie View A&M University
  • Radford University
  • Kent State University
  • San Francisco State University
  • Schoolcraft College
  • Shippensburg University
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale
  • Southern University at New Orleans
  • Stetson University
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • SUNY Cortland
  • The University of Texas at Tyler
  • The University of Toledo
  • University of North Carolina Charlotte
  • University of Delaware
  • University of New Haven
  • University of North Georgia
  • University of Texas at San Antonio
  • Valdosta State University
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology
  • Western Kentucky University

Inaugural Founders Day

Thank you so much to the many members who supported the very first Founders Day of Giving by making a donation to the NIRSA Foundation. Nearly $5,900 was raised to support the future of campus recreation. All donations will go to support the NIRSA Foundation’s work—from scholarships to educational opportunities, from research grants to strategic priorities—which in turn, supports the NIRSA membership.

Founders Day (annually on February 22) will continue as NIRSA’s Day of Giving and we look forward to this effort growing into a day of celebration and remembrance.

Thank you to CENTERS and our anonymous donor for providing matching donations and helping make our very first Founders Day successful!