https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/Campus ConnectionPosts tagged with 'Recreation Management & Recreational Therapy':2024-01-18T10:46:55.16Zhttps://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/rec-mgmt-masters-alumni/Taking the next step2024-01-18T10:46:55.16Z2024-01-18T13:00:00ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">1 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>18</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></p>
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<figcaption>Kristine Patterson (second from left) applied her UWL master's capstone project to host an "Unplug to Reconnect" event at UW-Superior.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Recreation Management master’s helps working professionals harness their potential </h3>
<p>UW-La Crosse alumni are making big career moves thanks to the skills and experiences they gained from UWL’s online <a data-mce-href="/grad/recreation-management-pd/" href="/grad/recreation-management-pd/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Recreation Management – Professional Development master’s program</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>While serving as a recreation coordinator for the Berwyn Park District in Berwyn, Illinois, Nicole Collier was exploring ways to take the next step in her career.&nbsp;Collier’s boss suggested UWL’s master's&nbsp;program, a two-year, fully online offering designed for working professionals. &nbsp;</p><p>The program covers an array of topics from the philosophical foundations of leisure, play, and recreation; data evaluation and management; and diversity and social justice in recreation.&nbsp;</p><p>“Each class really helped open my eyes even more in this field,” Collier says. “What I really enjoyed and got a lot from was my classmates’ experiences. I was presented with some amazing ideas, and I would think about how I could either incorporate something like that into my own agency or perhaps make some adjustments to make it work. Having a group of people from so many different areas in recreation but also across the U.S. was really amazing, and a vital asset to this program.”&nbsp;</p>
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<figcaption>Nicole Collier</figcaption>
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<p>After earning her degree in 2023, Collier was promoted to superintendent of recreation at the Berwyn Park District. In this role, she is now responsible for overseeing staff, managing resources&nbsp;and leading various initiatives.&nbsp;</p><p>Collier hopes to rally her team behind a new master plan intended to make the Berwyn Park District a model of excellence in the surrounding area — a challenge UWL helped prepare her to tackle.&nbsp;</p><p>“The program gave me greater insight into upper management, ultimately creating more confidence in my leadership skills,” Collier says. “I have become a more effective communicator not only in a professional capacity&nbsp;but personally as well.&nbsp;UW-La Crosse allowed me to see I had all the tools to be a good leader. It just helped me fine tune them, and for that, I will always be grateful.”&nbsp;</p><p>“This is exactly what we had hoped for and envisioned that our program could support our students in,” <a data-mce-href="/profile/kevans/" href="/profile/kevans/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Kate Evans</a>, academic program director, says.&nbsp; “We have extraordinary professionals enrolling in our program, and it is humbling to help support them as they realize their professional goals.”&nbsp;</p><p>Kristine Patterson, a 2021 graduate of the Recreation management – Professional Development master’s program, is also putting her UWL experiences to good use.&nbsp;</p><p>As the director of Campus Recreation at UW-Superior, Patterson has grown increasingly interested in mindfulness both personally and professionally.&nbsp;</p><p>Her master’s capstone project, “Putting Mindfulness and Well-Being into Practice Through Campus Employment,” explored the possibility of creating a program that could serve as a catalyst for mental health support and positive change in the community.&nbsp;</p><p>Upon earning her degree, Patterson worked to turn her project into reality.&nbsp;</p><p>The result was “Unplug to Reconnect,” a two-day program in which nine students and four staff members took a break from all electronics during an overnight trip. Activities included hiking, card games, puzzles, coloring, marshmallow-roasting, culminating with a canoe trip on Amnicon&nbsp;Lake.&nbsp;</p><p>Participants say they enjoyed learning about meditation methods, mindfulness, being present in the moment and more.</p><p>In the months and years ahead, Patterson hopes to organize additional events, incorporating more components from her capstone project for the benefit of her campus community.&nbsp;</p><p>Seeing recent graduates utilize&nbsp;their capstone projects and advance in their careers, Evans says, is a testament to the quality of the program.&nbsp;</p><p>Evans explains the program “was built from the ground up to serve the needs of working professionals in recreation” — from rolling admission to a flat tuition rate to a well-rounded team of faculty.</p><p><strong>About Graduate &amp; Extended Learning</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>Graduate &amp; Extended Learning connects the university to the community by offering innovative educational opportunities including degree programs, professional development, youth programs, conference and event services, and test preparation.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.uwlax.edu/gel/" data-mce-href="http://www.uwlax.edu/gel/">Click here</a>&nbsp;for more information.&nbsp;</p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/krissi-second-from-left-with-students-at-event.jpg/Medium" alt="Kristine Patterson (second from left) applied her UWL master's capstone project to host an "Unplug to Reconnect" event at UW-Superior." />
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<span class="title">Taking the next step</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">1 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>18</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></span>
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Recreation Management master’s helps working professionals harness their potential 
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/embrace-the-chill/Embrace the chill2024-01-09T08:36:53.503Z2024-01-09T08:36:53.503ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<span class="title">Embrace the chill</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8:36 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>9</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></span>
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UWL experts share winter recreation ideas
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/reimagine-new-years-resolutions/Reimagine New Year's resolutions2024-01-08T09:17:44.377Z2024-01-03T14:59:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">2:59 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>3</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></p>
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<figcaption>Fireworks during Riverfest at Riverside Park in La Crosse in 2022.</figcaption>
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<h3>Research insights from campus experts can supercharge 2024 goals </h3>
<p>If you’re making New Year’s resolutions for 2024, UW-La Crosse faculty and student research and innovation over the past year can provide the knowledge and inspiration to make those dreams reality. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>1. Want more self-care?</strong> UWL faculty members provide tips to <a data-mce-href="/currents/self-care-at-work/" href="/currents/self-care-at-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">integrate it into your workday</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>2. Studying for classes but struggling to make the grade? </strong><a data-mce-href="/college-tips/the-best-study-strategies/?return=/news/posts/" href="/college-tips/the-best-study-strategies/?return=/news/posts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn how to learn</a> with help from UWL’s &nbsp;educational psychology expert.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>3. Taking up running? &nbsp;</strong>Read this story about a simple running cue you can use to <a data-mce-href="/currents/research-for-better-running/" href="/currents/research-for-better-running/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have less impact on your joints</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>4. Simply planning to exercise more?</strong> <a data-mce-href="/currents/stretching-cardiovascular-research/" href="/currents/stretching-cardiovascular-research/">Don’t forget to stretch</a>. A UWL study found that passive stretching before a workout can allow your blood vessels to be more resilient to the stress of exercise. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>5. Want to broaden your knowledge of history or art? </strong>&nbsp;Our faculty help explain topics from <a data-mce-href="/currents/latinos-in-wisconsin/" href="/currents/latinos-in-wisconsin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wisconsin Latino history</a> to <a data-mce-href="/currents/women-statues/" href="/currents/women-statues/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women representations in public art</a> to <a data-mce-href="/news/posts/telling-forgotten-stories/" href="/news/posts/telling-forgotten-stories/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">international disability studies</a>. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>6. Looking for new ways to improve physical and mental health?</strong> <a data-mce-href="/currents/what-is-forest-bathing/" href="/currents/what-is-forest-bathing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Try forest bathing</a>. It has been shown to lower blood pressure and a UWL faculty member’s research has shown the <a data-mce-href="/currents/health-benefits-of-forest-bathing-for-kids/" href="/currents/health-benefits-of-forest-bathing-for-kids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health benefits for children and teens</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>7. Ready to elevate your projects? </strong>See how a UWL art student’s <a data-mce-href="/news/posts/bringing-emotion-to-life/" href="/news/posts/bringing-emotion-to-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">printmaking pieces are entering the national stage</a> and how another student’s research project inspired a more <a data-mce-href="/news/posts/sustainable-snow-solution/" href="/news/posts/sustainable-snow-solution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainable solution for campus snow</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>8. Eager to improve your resume?</strong> Consider a fellowship. Read about the transformational <a data-mce-href="/news/posts/foundation-fellow/" href="/news/posts/foundation-fellow/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fellowship experience of UWL student Marlee Simpson</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Need goal inspiration?</strong></h3><p>Maybe you haven’t set any goals yet for 2024, but you are ready to be inspired. Read how two UWL students <a data-mce-href="/news/posts/selling-smoothies-with-a-spark/" href="/news/posts/selling-smoothies-with-a-spark/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">turned an idea into a campus business</a>, how this <a data-mce-href="/news/posts/dedicating-a-degree/" href="/news/posts/dedicating-a-degree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mother set on a journey to go to earn her four-year degree</a>, and how this UWL alumna’s experience with ADHD i<a data-mce-href="/news/posts/adhd-advocate/" href="/news/posts/adhd-advocate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nspired her mission to help college students</a>.&nbsp;</p>
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<span class="title">Reimagine New Year's resolutions</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">2:59 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>3</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></span>
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Research insights from campus experts can supercharge 2024 goals 
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/natures-healing-touch/Nature's healing touch2023-12-01T15:48:04.007Z2023-11-28T11:32:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<span class="title">Nature's healing touch</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:32 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>28</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Study finds mental and physiological health benefits for kids and teens who participate in forest therapy
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/educators-flight/Educators Flight2023-11-21T15:10:23.977Z2023-11-24T10:00:00ZChloe Harthttps://uwlax.edu/profile/chart/chart@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>24</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>Laurie Harmon and Colin Belby participate in an Educators Flight with the Air National Guard.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">UWL faculty fly with Air National Guard at Volk Field</h3>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">UWL faculty Laurie Harmon and Colin Belby had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, thanks to alumna Kelsey Arendt.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">In July, Harmon and Belby participated in an Educators Flight with the Air National Guard at Volk Field.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“The Air National Guard, as part of their recent promotional strategies, offered several Educator Flights this past summer. Kelsey was kind enough to put forth my name and Colin’s to participate in the flight,” says Harmon, professor of recreation management and therapeutic recreation. “Both of us were thrilled at the opportunity and joined approximately 40 other educators on this flight.“</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Arendt, ’11, worked as an academic department associate for UWL’s Department of Geography &amp; Environmental Science and as an internship coordinator assistant for the Department of Recreation Management &amp; Recreation Therapy.</span> <span data-contrast="none">Harmon and Belby kept in touch with her as she transitioned to a new position working with the commander at Fort McCoy.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“While we definitely miss her, we also know this was such an exceptional experience that we were so glad to support her transition,” Harmon says.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The Educator Flight group signed up to fly in a KC-135 Stratotanker to observe refueling of two F-35 Lighting II jets based out of Madison before flying toward Duluth to refuel several F-16 fighter jets. However, educators were able to observe the Stratotanker refueling F-16s twice, due to F-16s running into weather. &nbsp;</span></p>
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<figcaption>Harmon and Belby observing an aerial refueling mission.</figcaption>
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<p><span data-contrast="none">“‘Observing’ meant that we were lying on a foam pad less than 12 inches from the head of the Boom Operator in the Stratotanker, looking out the same window he was, as each jet slowly approached the tanker,” Harmon explains. “As they linked up to the fuel dispenser in mid-air, we were looking into the eyes of the jet pilot – approximately 20 feet away. Jets were refueled in minutes.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The KC-135 Strantotanker’s principal mission is aerial refueling, with a cruising speed of 530 miles per hour. F-16 and newer F-35 fighter jets’ cruising speed is close to 1,200 miles per hour. The F-35 fighter jet has unlimited range with aerial refueling.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“The incredible precision of our military personnel and the extent of what kind of equipment we have in this country,” is what Harmon is taking away from her experience with the Educators Flight. “Our hosts also shared information post trip about the range of experiences people might have with the Air National Guard. It was definitely beyond what I was previously familiar with.”</span></p><p><span data-ccp-props="{">Belby, professor of geography and environmental science, was impressed by the professionalism of Air National Guard men and women.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
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<figcaption>The Air National Guard plans to continue the Educator Flight program next summer.</figcaption>
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<p><span>“They are clearly well-trained and passionate about what they do. It was fun having an opportunity to talk before, during</span><span>,</span><span> and after the flight to the A</span><span>ir National </span><span>G</span><span>uard </span><span>men and women that </span><span>participated</span><span> in the event, and to learn more about Volk Field</span><span>,</span><span>”</span><span> Belby s</span><span>ays.</span> <span>“</span><span>I regularly drive by the airfield, but before this event</span><span>,</span><span> I didn’t fully know or appreciate the role it plays and the opportunities the A</span><span>ir </span><span>N</span><span>ational </span><span>G</span><span>uard</span><span> provides to folks interested in serving their community and country.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The Air National Guard plans to continue this program next summer.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“</span><span>I highly recommend </span><span>participating</span><span> in the </span><span>E</span><span>ducator </span><span>F</span><span>light to anyone </span><span>that’s</span><span> offered the opportunity</span><span>,” Belby says.</span> <span>“</span><span>I never thought </span><span>I’d</span><span> get to fly in an Air Force plane, let alone lie down in the back of a refueling jet and peer into the cockpit of F-16 and F-35 fighters while flying over northern Wisconsin and Lake Superior. What an experience!</span><span>”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<span class="title">Educators Flight</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>24</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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UWL faculty fly with Air National Guard at Volk Field
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/advancing-allied-health/Advancing allied health2023-12-11T10:28:12.177Z2023-11-14T09:22:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9:22 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>14</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>Jennifer Taylor leads a meeting of students and faculty at the research center in the Health Science Center.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">New center connects researchers to support allied health projects </h3>
<p>UW-La Crosse opened a new center for collaborative research that supports allied health professionals, those professions that assist physicians and other specialists in the health care system. &nbsp;</p><p>The Health Science Interprofessional Research Center opened in May and has already created three collaborative projects. &nbsp;</p><ul><li><a data-mce-href="/news/posts/dr-wags/" href="/news/posts/dr-wags/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dr. Wags</strong></a> - A service dog has joined clinical classrooms where future occupational therapists, physical therapists, recreational therapists and others are learning how to incorporate service dogs into therapy. &nbsp;</li><li><a data-mce-href="/news/posts/walk-with-an-eagle/" href="/news/posts/walk-with-an-eagle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Walk with an Eagle</strong></a> - Partnering with AARP, the program provides one-to-one coaching with adults ages 50+. Student research assistants then completed a focus group study with program participants.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Make something GREAT</strong>- A therapeutic cooking program for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Graduate students facilitate the on-campus life skills program partnering with a community-based agency. &nbsp;</li></ul><p>HSIRC is exploring further collaborations that support and develop interprofessional, applied research among UWL students, faculty and community partners, in tandem with national and international scientists. &nbsp;</p><p>“We want to create opportunities for allied health students to apply their learning and engage in professional experiences that can ultimately help improve the future care that our graduates will give to the clients they’ll serve,” says <a data-mce-href="/profile/jtaylor/" href="/profile/jtaylor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennifer Taylor,</a> a UWL assistant professor of Recreational Therapy who serves as the center’s director.&nbsp;</p><p>The center is focused on exploring community-based health interventions that positively affect clinical health outcomes in diverse populations, she adds.&nbsp;</p><h3>Do you need help with an allied health project? &nbsp;</h3><p>Research opportunities for the HSIRC will come from within campus and the wider community. If you are an allied health professional looking for assistance with a project, contact the center at <a href="mailto:hsirc@uwlax.edu." data-mce-href="mailto:hsirc@uwlax.edu.">hsirc@uwlax.edu.&nbsp;</a></p><p>The HSIRC aims to provide evidence-based health promotion programs led by UWL allied health professional students and supported by UWL faculty. Research could provide community partners with data to aid them in grant writing and demonstrating health outcomes for the clients they serve. &nbsp;</p>
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<h3>Broadening the UWL student experience </h3>
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<figcaption> Partnering with AARP, the Walk with an Eagle program provides one-to-one coaching with adults ages 50+. </figcaption>
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<p>While students gain professional experience and skills within their individual programs, the (HSIRC) provides students an interprofessional lens for durable skills such as leadership, communication and teamwork. They’ll also learn research skills such as collecting and analyzing data, giving research presentations and contributing to publications.&nbsp;</p><p>Engaging in collaborative, interprofessional and applied research activities is viewed as a vital component in preparation for their future healthcare careers, adds Taylor.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>Growing partnerships across campus  </h3>
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<figcaption>Handlers Laura Schaffer and Tara DeLong with Rossi at the Health Science Center on the UW-La Crosse campus. The Dr. Wags program is a collaborative project of the Health Science Interprofessional Research Center. The HSIRC is located in the Health Science Center. </figcaption>
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<p>The center links faculty and students from multiple UWL allied health professional programs beginning with:</p><ul><li>Exercise and Sport Science</li><li>Occupational, Recreational</li><li>Physical Therapies</li></ul><p>The center has now expanded to include these additional programs with plans to expand partnerships across campus:</p><ul><li>Physician Assistant</li><li>Athletic Training</li><li>Public Health and Community Health Education</li></ul><p>The center also includes affiliate faculty from R1 and R2 universities, as well an international faculty member in Japan. The center looks forward to additional affiliations as there are currently 159 similar Interprofessional centers across the country (National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, 2022). &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h3>Background&nbsp;</h3><p>A steering committee was established in the spring of 2022 to develop a formal entity on the UWL campus. The center is currently housed in the College of Science &amp; Health (CSH), within the Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation Department. Taylor began the university entity establishment process, recruiting faculty leads from four UWL programs, as well as community stakeholders. The committee was awarded a UWL Margins of Excellence Grant and hired five undergraduate research assistants in the fall of 2023.&nbsp;</p><p>The vision of the steering committee was to: &nbsp;</p><ul><li>Establish a centralized location for health science faculty to conduct interprofessional research activities&nbsp;</li><li>Provide interprofessional mentoring opportunities for students including research study design, data collection and analysis, grant writing, professional presentations, and manuscript development&nbsp;</li><li>Implement and validate evidence-based health promotion programs for community members from diverse populations.&nbsp;</li></ul>
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<span class="title">Advancing allied health</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9:22 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>14</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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New center connects researchers to support allied health projects 
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/new-guided-forest-bathing-walk/New guided forest bathing walk2023-09-18T08:22:06.487Z2023-09-15T09:00:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Sept.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>15</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption> Forest bathing is the practice of immersing oneself outdoors while using multiple senses such as sight and touch to reconnect. </figcaption>
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<h3>Faculty, students partner with local organizations to create a new, self-guided forest bathing walk for community</h3>
<p>UW-La Crosse Recreation Management &amp; Recreational Therapy Department is sharing the wellness benefits of forest bathing with the greater La Crosse community with a new, self-guided audio walk on La Crosse's Hickory Trail.</p><p>The public is invited to a grand opening for a new written and audio guided forest bathing walk on the Hickory Trail in Hixon Forest in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 30. Attendees will meet in the Hixon Forest parking lot. &nbsp;</p><p>Signs at seven locations throughout the Hickory Trail include both a short-written guide and long audio guide that are accessible via QR codes. These audio guides allow trail users to listen in as a guide takes them through a forest bathing session as they walk the trail. UW-La Crosse Recreation Management &amp; Recreational Therapy Department and the local organization, Outdoor Recreation Alliance are hosting the event. Palm + Pine Yoga, Root Down Yoga Studio, and Rivertown Dental are the sponsors for this project.&nbsp;</p><p>The self-guided walk is free and allows near and distant community residents to experience the benefits of forest bathing without an on-site guide. Forest bathing is the practice of immersing oneself outdoors while using multiple senses such as sight and touch to reconnect. The practice has been shown through multiple studies to have physiological and psychological health benefits. The idea originated in Japan in the 1980s and has spread internationally. <a data-mce-href="/currents/what-is-forest-bathing/" href="/currents/what-is-forest-bathing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more about forest bathing.&nbsp;</a></p>
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<span class="title">New guided forest bathing walk</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Sept.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>15</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Faculty, students partner with local organizations to create a new, self-guided forest bathing walk for community
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/dr-wags/Dr. Wags2023-09-19T09:34:32.86Z2023-08-31T08:00:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<h3 class="subhead">A four-legged friend joins college student clinicals, preparing students to work with clients who have service animals </h3>
<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Aug.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>31</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<p>Motivation and support come in many forms, including a cold nose and a warm heart. The UW-La Crosse Health Science Interprofessional Research Center recently welcomed its newest staff member: Canine Companions Facility Dog Rossi.</p><p>Rossi is a smart dog and the first canine to become part of UW-La Crosse classrooms — specifically clinical classrooms where future occupational therapists, physical therapists, recreational therapists and others are learning how to incorporate service dogs into therapy. &nbsp;</p><p>“In their future careers, these students will be working with service dogs, so they need to know about the ability of service dogs and general care commands to better support their clients,” explains Jenn Taylor, UWL assistant professor of <a data-mce-href="/academics/recreational-therapy/" href="/academics/recreational-therapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Recreational Therapy.</a> “And if they are working with someone with a newly-acquired disability, they will be able to say, ‘here is what a service dog could do for you.’”&nbsp;</p><div class="list-item-1 ">
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<figcaption>Rossi can help someone play a game of cards. </figcaption>
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<p>Rossi is part of the new Dr. Wags program at UW-La Crosse that is launching this fall. The program aims to grow and provide facility service dog training on campus for future professionals who will work with clients who have them. The Dr. Wags collaboration is part of the Health Science Interprofessional Research Center, a collaboration between the departments of <a data-mce-href="/grad/occupational-therapy/" href="/grad/occupational-therapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Occupational Therapy</a>, <a data-mce-href="/grad/physical-therapy/" href="/grad/physical-therapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Physical Therapy</a>, <a data-mce-href="/academics/department/rec-management-and-therapeutic-rec/" href="/academics/department/rec-management-and-therapeutic-rec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recreational Therapy</a> and <a data-mce-href="/academics/department/exercise-and-sport-science/" href="/academics/department/exercise-and-sport-science/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Exercise and Sport Science</a> to do applied research.&nbsp;</p><p>Rossi comes from <a data-mce-href="https://canine.org/" href="https://canine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canine Companions</a>, a national organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained service dogs at no charge to the recipient. For over 45 years, Canine Companions has been enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by training and placing more than 7,000 service dogs with program graduates, including more than 350 dogs with military veterans and more than 2,000 dogs with children. The estimated cost of a highly-trained Canine Companions facility dog like Rossi, and all follow up support, is $50,000, however each facility dog is provided at no cost. Canine Companions depends on the support of tens of thousands of donors and volunteers to match facilities with service dogs like Rossi entirely free of charge. In addition to facility dogs, individuals with disabilities can <a data-mce-href="https://canine.org/" href="https://canine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apply to receive a service dog for free</a> through the organization.&nbsp;</p>
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<figcaption>Rossi puts a piece of laundry into the wash with one of his handlers, Laura Schaffer, UWL Occupational Therapy program director.</figcaption>
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<p>Rossi has been expertly matched to UWL to meet goals with students and the clients they serve. &nbsp;He can pull wagons and open refrigerators as well as perform complex tasks such as helping a client put on a shoe, do laundry, or assist clients as they play any number of games such as frisbee or ring toss. &nbsp;</p><p>With Rossi being the first service dog in the UW System, the process of establishing the program on campus hasn’t been simple, notes Taylor. Many steps exist for working with animals at universities from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval to risk management considerations. However, she says people across campus have pitched in to help with each step, including a group of UWL students in the HSIRC who researched service dog programs on other university campuses.&nbsp;</p>
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<figcaption>Rossi can comfort someone by covering their lap.</figcaption>
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<p>The idea of bringing a service dog to campus came from Laura Schaffer, program director for UWL’s Occupational Therapy program. Schaffer and Tara DeLong, associate teaching professor in Recreational Therapy, completed specialized training to be Rossi’s handlers, and they will be the only individuals to give commands to Rossi whether in classes or at community outings. &nbsp;</p><p>“I love that this is a project that brought health science disciplines together. We can use the dog in different ways depending on the type of therapy we are doing,” notes Taylor. “Still we all have common goals in incorporating service dogs. It all comes back to quality of life and care for the client.”&nbsp;</p>
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<figcaption>Rossi opens the refrigerator door as handler, Tara DeLong, a UWL Therapeutic Recreation professor, looks on.</figcaption>
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<p>The campus community is welcome to stop by and <strong>meet Rossi at the Health Science Interprofessional Research Center (HSIRC) booth during the <a data-mce-href="/event/eaglefest/" href="/event/eaglefest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">3rd Annual Eagle Fest Friday, Sept. 8</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<figcaption>Handlers Laura Schaffer and Tara DeLong with Rossi at the Health Science Center on the UW-La Crosse campus.</figcaption>
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<h3>About the <strong>Health Science Interprofessional Research Center </strong></h3><p>The mission of the HSIRC is to support and further develop interprofessional applied research among UWL students, faculty and community partners, in tandem with national and international scientists. The center provides a space to link faculty and students from multiple UWL allied health professional programs. Currently, faculty from Occupational, Recreational, and Physical Therapies as well as Exercise and Sport Science serve in the HSIRC with plans to expand partnerships across campus. The facility service dog program named "Dr. Wags" is the first collaborative HSIRC project.&nbsp;</p>
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<span class="title">Dr. Wags</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Aug.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>31</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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A four-legged friend joins college student clinicals, preparing students to work with clients who have service animals
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/walk-with-an-eagle/Walk with an Eagle2023-05-08T14:57:33.717Z2023-05-05T11:08:00ZYoo Mee Howardhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/yhoward/yhoward@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:08 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>May</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>5</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>The Walk with an Eagle program at UW-La Crosse matches recreational therapy students with older adults, with the goal of sparking social connections through the simple act of walking and talking. Part of UWL's Community Engaged Learning program, the course is taught by Assistant Professor Jennifer Taylor.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Rec therapy program benefits students and adults 50-plus</h3>
<p>UW-La Crosse recreational therapy students are gaining soft skills and practical abilities critical to successful careers in health care — one step at a time.</p><p><a data-mce-href="/profile/jtaylor/" href="/profile/jtaylor/">Assistant Professor Jennifer Taylor</a> has partnered with AARP Wisconsin and UWL Community Engagement to launch the Walk with an Eagle program, the first of its kind in the state.</p><p>The program, in its first semester, matches recreational therapy students with older adults, with the goal of sparking social connections through the simple act of walking and talking.</p><p>“These students are training to become recreational therapy professionals, so it’s important that they’re able to build a rapport with the community, conduct assessments, and implement and evaluate programs,” Taylor explains. “The focus is less on seeing how much physical activity you can do and more on the social aspect, building that rapport.”</p><p>Once a week, the students and their partners embark on a 45-minute walk around campus.</p><p>The students track their partner’s steps, assess how long and how far they walk each session, and make adjustments to the route as needed.</p><p>But Taylor has been careful to ensure that none of these more clinical tasks detracts from the greater purpose of creating social connections. Students who can build meaningful relationships with clients, particularly older adults, will have a leg up when they enter the field, she says.</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p>
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<figcaption>Each week, students and their partners embark on a 45-minute walk around campus. Students say they enjoy the chance to connect with older adults, as well as the chance to develop practical skills in recreational therapy.</figcaption>
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<p>“I’ve heard from some of our walkers that this is the only time each week that they really interact with college students,” Taylor says. “We want to make that time as special as possible. So it’s amazing to see those interactions with students, all the stories they share with each other.”</p><p>Carter Baures, a junior majoring in recreational therapy, is no stranger to working with older adults. He began working at an assisted living facility in high school and quickly discovered it was his calling.</p><p>“Nothing I’ve found has made me feel as passionate as I feel about long-term care and working with older adults,” says Baures, noting how much he has enjoyed the Walk with an Eagle program. As participation in the program has increased, he’s taken on two additional walking partners.</p><p>“I’ve really enjoyed the hands-on-learning, the clinical experience and working on my communication skills,” he says. “You talk with someone, and you see them smile, and it stays in your mind forever.”</p><p>Paige Coleman, a senior recreational therapy major, has had a similarly enriching experience.</p><p>“I previously thought I wanted to work with children with special needs, but this class has made me want to work with older adults, too,” she says. “My partner and I talk about things going on in our lives, things going on in the community, what we did over the weekend. It’s really nice to make that personal connection while helping them reach their goals and live a healthier life.”</p><p>While Taylor jokes that winter in Wisconsin may not sound like the best time and place to start a walking program, attendance has been consistently strong. The number of participants from AARP has grown from 10 to as many as 24, with many participants rarely missing a session.</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p>
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<figcaption>Jennifer Taylor, assistant professor of recreation management and therapeutic recreation</figcaption>
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<p>And although there’s no escaping Mother Nature entirely, the class has been able to mitigate its effects by utilizing campus buildings in their walking routes – which has an added benefit.</p><p>“It’s nice to see all of the new buildings around campus,” says walker Bev, who earned a business degree from UWL in the mid-1990s. “It’s fun walking and fun to learn about the students — where they come from, what they’re interested in and what they plan to do.”</p><p>Liz, another walker, adds: “The fact that it’s on campus and allows us to connect with students was (a draw for me). And it’s exciting to be part of a pilot program.”</p><p>Darrin Wasniewski, associate state director of community outreach for AARP Wisconsin, says programs that support intergenerational connections are sorely needed.</p><p>“Society has a way of segregating people based on age,” he says. “For us, this is the first program in the state like this, and it’s been great to see it come to fruition.”</p><p>While there are a few more walks scheduled this spring, Wasniewski and Taylor are already discussing the possibility of bringing it back in the future.</p><p>“I think we all realize it’s too important of a program to let it go away,” he says.</p><p><strong><span data-contrast="none">About the program</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">UWL’s Community Engaged Learning program matches local businesses and organizations with faculty experts seeking real-world experiences and skill applications for their students.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Organizations can submit project ideas through the </span><a href="/community/uwl-community-idea-exchange-submission/" data-mce-href="/community/uwl-community-idea-exchange-submission/"><span data-contrast="none">UWL Community Idea Exchange</span></a><span data-contrast="none">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Faculty </span><a href="https://uwlax.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_43otpnkF6BSGtRX" data-mce-href="https://uwlax.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_43otpnkF6BSGtRX"><span data-contrast="none">can apply</span></a><span data-contrast="none"> to have their course designated for Community Engaged Learning.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<span class="title">Walk with an Eagle</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:08 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>May</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>5</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/a-frozen-finish/A frozen finish2023-05-01T08:11:14.227Z2023-04-29T07:04:00ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">7:04 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Saturday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>29</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>KattiJo Deeter, '08, completed this year's Iditarod — the famed, 938-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Deeter reached the finish line after 10 days, 6 hours and 44 minutes — good for 16th place.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Alum completes famed Iditarod sled dog race</h3>
<p><em>By Maddie Kozel, English student</em></p><p>A UW-La Crosse alum has completed “The Last Great Race on Earth.”</p><p>KattiJo Deeter, ’08, originally from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, is currently living in Alaska while fulfilling her dream of competing in sled dog races.</p><p>In March, she was one of about 30 mushers to complete the Iditarod — the famed, 938-mile race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Deeter finished in 16th place, having traversed the frozen course in 10 days, 6 hours and 44 minutes.</p><p>Deeter was a <a data-mce-href="/rec-management-and-therapeutic-rec/" href="/rec-management-and-therapeutic-rec/">recreation therapy</a> major during her time at UWL but says she has placed a heavier emphasis on the “recreation” part of her background.</p>
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<figcaption>Deeter celebrates at the finish line with her husband and fellow musher, Jeff Deeter.</figcaption>
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<p>“When you live in the Midwest,” she explains, “you either love winter or you hate it. I’ve always loved it. Since I was a kid, dogsledding was always on my list.”</p><p>After spending her college summers at summer camps and ski resorts, Deeter finally had the opportunity to travel to Alaska to work with sled dogs in 2010.</p><p>At first in her career, Deeter tagged along on race training as she gained experience with the dogs and the profession.</p><p>After meeting her husband, Jeff Deeter, in Alaska, she began her sled dog racing journey around 2015.</p><p>When she watched her husband compete in his second Iditarod in 2018, it started to feel attainable for Deeter, too. However, the training leading up to the race is demanding.</p><p>First, in order to qualify, a musher must complete at least two 300-mile races and one 200-mile race. This can take a dedicated musher many years to prepare for, spending entire winters training their dogs and making slow progress toward the overall goal.</p><p>“The hours that we put into work probably average about 90 per week,” Deeter explains. “We live with our dogs, so that includes the time spent feeding, watering, running, exercising and vet trips, too.”</p><p>Although only 14 dogs can race for each team during the Iditarod, Deeter has 45 in her kennel.</p><p>About 20 of these dogs don’t race at all. They’re either too young or too old, or they’re just pets.</p><p>All in all, Deeter’s experience in sled dog racing has taught her that there’s a lot to be learned even after college graduation.</p><p>One thing she has learned: “If you’re interested in something, go for it. Do it before you’re married, have kids, own a house. Do it while you’re young.”</p>
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<figcaption>Although only 14 dogs can race for each team during the Iditarod, Deeter has 45 in her kennel.</figcaption>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/kattijo-feature-image.jpg/Medium" alt="KattiJo Deeter, '08, completed this year's Iditarod — the famed, 938-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Deeter reached the finish line after 10 days, 6 hours and 44 minutes — good for 16th place." />
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<span class="title">A frozen finish</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">7:04 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Saturday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>29</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Alum completes famed Iditarod sled dog race
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