Blue Valley Recreation News

Thu, Jul 22, 2010 - [Blue Valley]

For the second consecutive year, employees and commissioners of Blue Valley Rec voluntarily funded scholarships to continue education. The scholarships, open to employees as well as volunteers, are selected from applications submitted to a committee.

In 2009, Executive Director Steve Baysinger envisioned a way to honor staff and volunteers by establishing an annual scholarship. Because of Blue Valley Rec’s relationship with the Blue Valley School District, he felt an educational scholarship was a natural fit. Scholarships, funded entirely by voluntary contributions from staff and commissioners, are designated for post-secondary education expenses. Scholarships are available to those who have either volunteered a minimum of 20 hours or been employed at least 80 hours during the time period July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.  

Katy Critser and Cassandra Weber are this year’s scholarship recipients. Critser has been a seasonal employee since 2007, working in concessions at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex. Weber has held numerous jobs since 2001, including concession worker, softball and kickball umpire, volleyball official, and gym supervisor.
 
Critser, a 2010 graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School, will attend North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND this fall. Her course of study will be in the area of child development, family science and elementary education. Critser plans to attend law school after completing her undergraduate degree.
 
Weber graduated from Olathe South High School in 2004. From 2004-2007, she attended Mid-America Nazarene University and University of Missouri/Kansas City for her undergraduate degree in psychology. She received her Masters in Counseling from UMKC in 2010 and will return this fall, working toward a doctoral degree in physical therapy.
 
Weber said working at Blue Valley Rec has been a great experience for her, especially since she loves sports and being outside. She added “Blue Valley Rec is home to me when I’m not with my family, and I feel blessed for the years I’ve worked there.”
 
Kim Galbraith, Chair of the Blue Valley Recreation Commission, reflected “Katy and Cassandra are great examples of the culture we try to cultivate at Blue Valley Recreation. They’re very deserving of these scholarships and have clearly strengthened our community as good students and great employees.”

   

Contact: Connie Skeens, 913.685.6003.

 

Hard-working employees and dedicated volunteers are the backbone of any organization. Whether it’s the 49 full-time employees, 652part-time/seasonal employees or the numerous volunteers that donate thousands of hours, Blue Valley Recreation Commission values them all. The organization’s vision statement, “Enriching lives, strengthening a spirit of community,” reflects the sense of community that employees and volunteers experience.

 
 
Hours of Operation

Activity Center
6545 W. 151st Street
Monday - Friday, 6am-9pm
Saturday, 7am-7pm
Sunday, noon-7pm
913.685.6000
For weather cancellations
call 913.685.6099

Recreation Complex Office (Sports)
9701 W. 137th Street
Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm
913.685.6030
For weather cancellations
call 913.685.6099
 

Administrative Offices
6545 W. 151st Street
Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
913.685.6000

Vision Statement:

"Enriching Lives, Strengthening a Spirit of Community"

Mission Statement:

"We will champion community and personal growth through dynamic lifelong recreation experiences."