May 26, 2009
Cooke earns RSS Leadership Team award
Cooke, of Manteca, Calif., is the daughter of George Cooke and Cynthia Lindsay. She is a second-year graduate student and anticipates graduating in spring 2010 with her master’s in recreation resource administration. She earned her undergraduate degree, a bachelor of science in recreation, at Chicago State University.
Cooke works as a graduate assistant in the special populations adaptive and inclusive recreation program at SIUC. She has been with RSS since August 2008.
After completing her education, Cook anticipates a career as an experiential educator and guiding outdoor adventure educational trips.
“I’m extremely happy Samantha is being recognized as the Leadership Team Employee of the Month for April,” said Kathy L. Hollister, assistant director of special populations for Recreational Sports and Services. “Sam always has a smile on her face and truly enjoys helping others. She is the pied piper of my staff. She has a can-do attitude and especially helps build the confidence of activity participants in the adaptive and inclusive recreational programs and in staff employees when they are trying something new.”
Recreational Sports and Services presents the monthly Leadership Team award to a member of the team, which includes full-time staff, graduate assistants and student employees. Full-time staff members select the winner from among team nominations and the award recognizes extraordinary leadership and teamwork skills.