NIRSA and campus recreation have long been vital to the personal and professional lives of Shane and Tena Bennett. After meeting at Western Illinois University, they were reacquainted at the NIRSA Annual Conference in San Antonio. “We hung out that entire conference and from that week on, we knew we would be together,” says Tena, Student Center Director at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The opportunities and relationships that the Bennetts built through NIRSA drove them to give back to the Association by recently joining the NIRSA Foundation Legacy Society. Tena says, “NIRSA was the first professional organization I became involved in, and without the support of so many people, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is more than an Association. It is a family, a support system, a network.”

Although Shane, Assistant Director – Region K of Special Olympics Illinois, is not currently working in the field of campus rec, his desire to pay it forward to NIRSA was a priority. “I knew the moment I became involved in NIRSA that if I was blessed enough to give back to NIRSA, it was going to be a priority for me. I was fortunate to have married someone with the same passions as I shared,” he says. “This allows Tena and I to share with the future what we have experienced throughout our careers.”

Through NIRSA, the Bennetts each met mentors who provided them with professional guidance and opened doors to opportunities in the field. They agree that they would be very different people today had it not been for their experiences in NIRSA, and they hope to ensure NIRSA student and professional members continue to have expanding opportunities, access to research and professional development, and groundbreaking experiences through NIRSA.

“Taking the time to reflect on where you have come from is important,” Tena says. “Providing opportunities for those who follow us in the field is why we are working on college campuses…NIRSA is the foundation of our experiences and this is our way of paying it forward.”

Shane hopes supporting his professional home through planned giving will provide projects and experiences for students and professionals that “people would never have thought possible.” He wants to see NIRSA “continue to grow and foster an environment where [it] can be successful and stay leaders in campus recreation.” He goes on to say, “What NIRSA does is vital to students and staff across the country. Any way we can assist NIRSA and its mission, I support that one hundred percent.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the Legacy Society, explore the brochure on our website or download a bequest form today.

 

  • For more information about planned giving, contact NIRSA Director of Philanthropy Kim Holmes.