Danna Main • CU Boulder Campus Rec — Attending my first NIRSA event in Portland in April 2022 was a life-changing experience. Walking into a space filled with passionate professionals, I felt an immediate sense of belonging. Throughout the week, I met incredible mentors, made lifelong connections, and by the end, I had secured my first full-time role. It was a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, gratitude, and the realization that this community would shape my career in ways I never imagined.

Michael Lee • Fitness Machine Technicians — The NIRSA and Campus Rec community are the most enjoyable group of people I have had the pleasure of working with! Young, vibrant, full of life and enthusiasm, even when things are difficult!!

Chris Hutton • BSN SPORTS — In 1996, nearing graduation from MTSU, I was uncertain about my future. That's when WT Taylor and several graduate assistants invited me to a NIRSA conference in Kansas City. They offered me a spot to sleep on their room floor, so I quickly took the GRE and put together a resume. At the event, I felt welcomed and found my people. I met school representatives seeking Graduate Assistants for Campus Recreation. One conversation with Tamara Jarrett from Ohio University led to a meeting with Bill Sells, who introduced me to an open position. I accepted the role at Ohio University, where I spent a transformative year, forging friendships and meeting my future wife. This experience solidified my career in Campus Recreation for 10 years. For the last 19 years, I’ve worked with BSN SPORTS, maintaining those friendships. I owe my career to NIRSA and continue to meet young professionals at the annual conference, offering them the same opportunities I was given.

George Brown • University of Minnesota Twin Cities — An evergreen memory I carry from my 40+ years in the collegiate recreation field is the friendships and network of tireless professionals and students who come to the annual conference and expo to meet and greet each other as if longstanding friends and even family! The commitment and passion they bring to learn from one another, cheering the successes and caring for each other during the challenges. NIRSA folks represent a way of thriving through health and wellbeing that brings out joy and lifetime satisfaction. There has always been an inherent sense that through the networks that are formed or reunited at the annual conferences, a potent source of energy was reignited. NIRSA conferences always represented the best of inclusion realizing that if it was your first or fortieth conference you were welcomed unconditionally. It is these memories that confirm I made the right career choice to enter and stay in the field of collegiate recreation.

Anonymous — Returning to the conference after years working in another field. I remember showing up in Texas and within the first 30 minutes of seeing people and reacquainting myself, it was clear i had made the right choice and knew i would retire in this field.

Greg Durham — My favorite NIRSA memory to date is the Recreation without Borders National Trivia Project - During COVID, NIRSA members from across the country got together to put something together for our students. It was a great series of events that led to thousands of engagements. I am excited that I got to be a part of it, but more excited that it engaged thousands of students across the country, even if only for a few weeks. Shoutout to Flick, Justin, and everyone else who was involved, but mostly those two for doing all the heavy lifting!

Marc Iturriaga — Being asked to be a member of the Sustainability Commission as a young director, not knowing any of the members, who all turned out to be past, current, or future NIRSA Presidents. The amount of learning, growth, and mentorship I received while still feeling like I was contributing to the Association was career changing! I learned the true value of expanding my network through authentic, professional, and supportive relationships and made lifelong friends in the process!

Alan Torres • Cal Poly Pomona, Associated Students Inc. — My NIRSA memory is arriving to the 2024 National Conference and Arizona not knowing anyone then leaving with new friends, feeling welcomed by not only Pro Staff but students as well!