February 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 37

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Taylor Hooker, 26

Recreation Therapist, Veterans Healthcare Administration (MN)

UNDER

Taylor Hooker is a passionate advocate for our veterans
and is dedicated to improving their quality of life. She
highlights the use of recreation and leisure as key components of a healthy lifestyle for veterans and their families.
Her current work focuses on advocating for and assessing
the use of Equine Assisted Services for veterans. At the
Veterans Healthcare Administration, she promotes using
evidence-based practices for those interested in bringing
Equine Assisted Services to their Veterans Affairs locations. During COVID-19, Hooker worked with her colleagues to transform these services into virtual formats,
including leisure education, stress management and
health coaching.

Alex Hurdle, 29
Recreation Coordinator, City of Durham Parks and Recreation (NC)

Alex Hurdle is dedicated to the P&R field, especially as it relates to public health. Hurdle serves on community advisory
boards, including the Duke Health and Durham County Health Department, to ensure P&R is taking an active role in improving community health. He has created programming to address issues relating to food
insecurity, diabetes and food access, and willingly
shares his knowledge with other P&R professionals. Along with his work on public health, Hurdle has served on the NRPA Certified Park and
Recreation Professional Exam Committee, which
helps shape the exam that dictates the profession's
standards.

Rebecca Lackey, 28
Recreation Specialist I, City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation (VA)

Matthew Kerns, 26
At Large - Park and Recreation Professional, Formerly with Metro Parks Tacoma (WA)

Matthew Kerns was facility supervisor for South Tacoma Activity and
Recreation Center when COVID-19 hit. The facility remains closed
due to pandemic restrictions, which meant he lost his job among 40
other staff. However, Kerns has found ways to volunteer with the
Washington Recreation and Parks Association. He helped design and
implement a survey that studied the impacts of COVID-19 on the
state's P&R agencies. Kerns also organized a community drive-in movie
series this past summer, which allowed families to safely recreate. With
only three staff working the event, laid-off and furloughed staff volunteered each weekend to help make the movie series successful.

Rebecca Lackey is an inspiration and an amazing team
member in the City of Virginia
Beach's Parks and Recreation
Department. She makes contributions to the agency's Commission for Accreditation of
Park and Recreation Agencies
submission, teaches at local
meetings and at the Virginia
Parks and Recreation Society
Conference, and works on departmental committees. Lackey also served on one of City
of Virginia Beach P&R's Strategic Initiative Teams. She was
the youngest member and the
only person selected who was
not in an executive or management position. This was a great
testament to her character and
leadership in the community.

PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | F E B R UA RY 2 02 1 |

Parks & Recreation

February 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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