The University Recreation (UREC) team is here to motivate and support students to live well-balanced and active lives throughout the college experience and beyond! UREC offers state-of-the-art facilities and programs/services in adventure, aquatics, fitness, group exercise, informal recreation, intramural sports, nutrition, safety, sport clubs and wellness that teach and empower JMU students to make healthy lifestyle choices.
By the time JMU students graduate, 95% report having participated in at least one UREC program or service, which range from adventure, aquatics, fitness, group exercise, informal recreation, intramural sports, nutrition, safety, sport clubs and wellness that teach and empower JMU students to make healthy lifestyle choices.
The UREC Scholarship Endowment:
Help support future generations of UREC student leaders with a gift to the University Recreation Scholarship Endowment! Scholarships awarded annually can help relieve some financial burden for UREC student employees, so that they can continue the tradition of excellence in Motivating Madison into Motion. Fifteen student employees have received scholarships from this endowment so far! Here's one of their stories:
“Being 323 miles from home was quite an adjustment in my first year. I was trying to find my home away from home. There are not enough words of gratitude that I have for UREC being my second home. JMU and UREC have given me countless opportunities relating to student focus and academic quality. At the beginning of my first year, I had yet to step into a gym, let alone a 25,000-square-foot Fitness Center. One specific interaction with a fitness assistant immediately made me want to work at UREC. She was so genuine and understanding that I did not know much about working out; she showed me some exercises. By mid-semester, I felt super comfortable going to UREC, and I found so much happiness through working out. Since then, I have always tried to be the person that I needed when I was lost and inexperienced. Whenever I see a lost or confused participant, I immediately seek to help out and take charge. I try to understand their wants and needs and focus on different ways of achieving their goals. This year, working as a fitness manager taught me a lot about myself and the student focus UREC offers. I have focused on being a mentor for my coworkers to look up to and be there for them even outside of work. I have learned my leadership style, how to use it, and be understanding of others that are opposite from mine.” Lexi Bodga, UREC Student Employee and 2023-24 Scholarship Recipient
