Insider December 2016 APA S.MI.L.E. Soccer Game T he Acadia Players Association is a committee dedicated to enhancing the experience of varsity student athletes at Acadia. As many varsity athletes at Acadia are involved with the S.M.I.L.E. program as both leaders and instructors, fundraising for the S.M.I.L.E. program has become an important part of their year. This October, the APA organized a soccer game in support of S.M.I.L.E. with varsity athletes competing against each other in a friendly match. Funds raised from the game will help fund special events for all of our program days. Keep an eye out for future S.M.I.L.E. fundraising events put on by the APA! Where Are They Now? Megan MacDonald S .M.I.L.E. has been influential in my life and career, it’s a program I think about often and fondly. Since I graduated from Acadia in 2002, I joined Oregon State University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Kinesiology program. In addition to teaching and conducting research I am also one of 5 faculty affiliated with a program very similar to S.M.I.L.E., called IMPACT. IMPACT, along with other programs in adapted physical activity here at OSU, provide outreach opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students, and provide essential community-based APA services to individuals in the community who have a disability. In 2014, I was honored to be invited to the White House Summit & Research Forum on Improved Health & Fitness for Americans with Disabilities. This forum indicated to me that the health and fitness of individuals with disabilities is a National priority and I am committed to being a part of this progressive change. S.M.I.L.E. has shaped my career. The S.M.I.L.E. participants, volunteers, staff and directors are friends who I am so thankful for. Megan MacDonald was the Interim Director of the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. Program in 2007-2008. She was the recent recipient of the David P. Beaver APA Professional Young Scholar Award, awarded for dedication to Adapted Physical Activity. Page 3
4 Publizr Home