April 30, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Norrito is preparing students to see sport not just as an industry, but as a powerful force for social good. The Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is pleased to welcome Alessio Norrito as a postdoctoral research associate. Norrito brings with him an […]
Tag: RST Newsletter Spring 2026
What two RST students gleaned from internships abroad
May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons These Recreation, Sport and Tourism undergraduates landed summer internships abroad. Here’s what they learned Every year, students studying Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign venture across the United States for professional internships. Some even find work outside of the country. The College of Applied Health […]
In RST event management course, preparation is the main event
May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons In this capstone course, recreation, sport and tourism undergrads plan events from start to finish. The class has created several community highlights Tournaments for pickleball, spike ball and wheelchair basketball, a “yappy” hour at a local brewery with dogs invited, a fairy tale ball at a local library: Each […]
Prepared for the unexpected: How Bedford Park and RST built a living laboratory for safety
May 15, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo A sponsored partnership serves as an experiential learning opportunity for Recreation, Sport and Tourism students On any given weekend, the parking lots around the Wintrust Sports Complex fill with minivans and team buses, their passengers streaming through the doors with duffel bags and folding chairs in tow. Inside, basketballs […]
How ORPR is shaping the future of parks and recreation
May 15, 2026 | Laura Payne The Office of Recreation and Park Resources is making tangible impacts for communities and nonprofits On any given day, a graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign might be found leading a focus group in a small Illinois town, presenting data to local officials or helping design the […]
The intern who turned an ejection into a career lesson
April 10, 2026 | Ethan Simmons One embarrassing moment produced viral fame and lifelong lessons for this Recreation, Sport and Tourism alum. At their best, college internships are valuable learning experiences. Derek Dye didn’t expect his to involve getting tossed out of a baseball game. That was the viral story for this University of Illinois […]
RST: A history of Black American runners at the Boston Marathon
Feb. 26, 2026 | Ethan Simmons A new essay from a Recreation, Sport and Tourism professor shows these runners “shaping their own destinies” on a premier stage of the sport. The Boston Marathon’s first known Black finishers. The first Black American to run the marathon in the Olympics. A charismatic road race organizer who ran […]