Humans of UREC - A social media campaign that highlights individuals
William Smith
William Smith, known around UREC as Basketball Bill, worked at JMU from 1972-1998 and has been using UREC’s facilities every day of the week as a Faculty Emeritus member since 2000.
Bill began his exercise journey by swimming laps but now alternates his time between the fitness center and sinking three-pointers in the fitness pool. He takes pride in knowing the lifeguards by name and loves to quiz the UREC staff by asking them JMU trivia questions. To Bill, the social aspect of being at UREC keeps him coming back day after day.
He says, “What I like about UREC is that it's a positive environment and it’s very upbeat.” Bill loves how friendly everyone is and always looks forward to seeing his friends on the housekeeping staff. Look out for Basketball Bill shooting hoops in the Aquatics Center!
Grace Hourigan
Grace Hourigan is a senior transfer student who has been teaching group exercise classes for almost a year and a half now. She knew she wanted to work at UREC because her previous instructors really inspired her and she wanted the opportunity to motivate people at JMU.
Her favorite part about teaching cycle, HIIT, and barre is encouraging others to do their best. Grace loves seeing participants come back each week and has enjoyed forming connections with her classes. She says, “I’ve met some of my best friends at UREC and I am always so excited to be here.”
Grace’s understands that everyone is at a different place in their college careers, but still encourages others to take a group exercise class, even if they have no experience. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, Grace says “People at UREC are so welcoming and everyone wants to see you succeed!”
Tran & Triem Troung
For Tran and Triem Troung, UREC has played a huge role in their time at JMU. They have both been employees for over a year now and are thankful to have the chance to see UREC behind the scenes.
Tran is a senior marketing major who loves working out and invests time in improving himself in the gym. He says, “Learn to put yourself first,” and emphasizes the value of taking time for yourself. He has found his job at UREC to be so rewarding in helping him with his professional business goals.
Triem is a junior business management major who is a Recreation Manager at UREC. He has always played sports but struggled with his self esteem, and wasn’t always very confident about himself. He wants to help others with their self confidence. UREC has allowed him to emphasize his message that everyone is unique and it is important to be happy with the way you look.
Be sure to look out for Tran and Triem in the Fitness Center!
Autumn Guild
Autumn Guild is a UREC Member Services Manager who is studying English and Secondary Education. She began her journey at UREC as a junior when she wanted to find a job on campus. Immediately, Autumn fell in love with the social, outgoing people she met and knew it was more than just a job.
She says, "I love coming into this building and knowing I'm going to see people I know.” Autumn has made friends with those who she regularly swipes into UREC and keeps in touch with them. With UREC hiring in full swing, she says if you’re thinking about applying, put yourself out there and join a community of people who will make you feel at home.
In Autumn’s free time, she began playing Pickleball to improve her skills and have fun with her friends. She is thankful to have found her home away from home at UREC and encourages others to do the same.
Jared King
Jared King, a first year student at JMU, has used UREC as a way to de-stress from class, have fun and try new things since he arrived on campus.
Jared joined an intramural flag football team and they all quickly became friends. Now, they come to play pick-up basketball whenever they can. He says, “It’s great that I didn’t have to stop sports after high school. I can keep playing and make new friendships.”
He also loves going to the aquatics center after a workout and even tried yoga for the first time. His next UREC adventure will be to take a cooking class. Jared always looks forward to being able to come into UREC and said, “College would be a lot more boring if I didn’t have this place to come to!”
Ashley Hellerstedt
Ashley Hellerstedt is a senior Interdisciplinary Religion major from Buckingham, Virginia. Since May 2018, she has gained leadership experience by starting as a Fitness Assistant and working her way up to being an Operations Supervisor. When Ashley got to JMU, she knew she wanted to work at a gym, but never knew how much more than a gym UREC would be for her.
Ashley's positions have provided her with 100% confidence in herself, which has enabled her to empower employees and participants to better themselves as well. This experience has taught her to cultivate kindness and create a welcoming, inclusive environment for everyone she meets.
Ashley says, “UREC has made me who I needed to be, who I am and who I am going to be.” She has so much energy and pride for UREC and loves showing everyone that this place is what JMU is all about.
If she had to describe her UREC experience in one word, it would be “Empowering.” How would you describe your UREC experience?
Julia Bashore
Julia Bashore is a graduate student studying Elementary Education and an Operations Supervisor at UREC. When Julia applied to work in Member Services 3 years ago, she thought this was just going to be a job where she came in, swiped cards and left, but soon found that it was so much more.
To some people, this may just be a place to exercise, but to Julia, UREC is home. She had no idea how great it would be to work at such an amazing facility. Everyone at UREC really cared about her and it clearly wasn’t just a gym.
Since Julia is graduating in December, she has been reflecting on her time at JMU and says the feelings, experiences and environment that UREC employees have is very special. Her connections with other employees are priceless and she is fortunate to have been apart of something so valuable.
When heading into the workforce in the near future, Julia says, “Be comfortable being uncomfortable,” and encourages other graduates to be humble, make goals for yourself, and know that everyone around you is on your team, just as they were for her at UREC. #HumansOfUREC
Jade D'Avanzo
Jade D'Avanzo is a freshman psychology major who came to UREC Fest and instantly fell in love with the dance group exercise classes. She started by taking Cardio Dance Party once a week, which quickly turned into also taking Latin Dance Party and Choreo Dance as much as possible.
Jade says, “Cardio Dance Party is the first thing I found that is physical activity that I genuinely enjoy and make an effort to go to." UREC has made Jade's adjustment to JMU significantly better by helping her meet a lot of people that she would not have otherwise interacted with.
She enjoys exercising with instructors and participants that have a great attitude and help her better herself. Jade encourages others to try group exercise classes to find their own passion, as UREC has something for everyone.
Mike Greenshields
Mike Greenshields is a transfer student and the Vice President of Club Climbing. He is a math major with a secondary education minor and he hopes to become high school math teacher.
At first, Mike didn’t know many people at JMU and one of his friends from his orientation group convinced him to come rock climb at UREC. Ever since, he has been climbing every week and the club has made a huge impact on his life.
He says, “We’re such a fun community, I just want to get as many people involved as possible.” Mike helps lead meetings every Monday, where they discuss volunteer opportunities, learn about climbing techniques and rules about the sport.
He encourages members to go to climbing competitions and loves that the club is constantly expanding. He devotes so much of his time into making the club better for others so they can feel the same way that he did when he joined.
Mike says, “I found something that I love to do, with people that I love and those things together changed my life at JMU.”
Kristen Connors
Kristen Connors is a senior Biomedical Illustration major who has been a Group Exercise instructor for the past six semesters. She enjoys teaching TRX and Core Training, but her favorite UREC class is Power Yoga 2. Kristen says, “I have a lot of regulars that push me to be more and more creative every class.”
For Kristen, being an employee at UREC is more than just a job because she feels that she gets to embody and represent the community all the time. When she thinks about wellness and physical activity, Kristen says it is all about exploring and communicating with your body, as it is crucial to build a sustainable, enjoyable lifestyle.
Yoga has encouraged her to set and reach goals for herself and she loves being able to guide others to find their passion at UREC. Kristen loves starting her day off early in Group Exercise yoga classes that allow her to take the good energy with her for the rest of the day. Kristen says, “No matter what, check out everything on URECRegister because there is so much more than just the Fitness Center!”