WATERLOO, Ont. - For Kevin Wilson, coordinator, recreation sport programs in the Department of Athletics and Recreation at Wilfrid Laurier University, sport participation and student success go hand in hand. Recently, he received the Marion Miller Award from the Canadian Association of Leisure Studies. This achievement recognizes the most outstanding paper authored by a graduate student in the field of leisure studies.

His paper "If You Build it Will They Come? The Mediating Roles of Human Resource and Program Capacities" was co-authored with Laura Wood and Ryan Snelgrove and published in the Recreation Sports Journal in 2023. The research emphasizes the importance of investment in not only facilities but also human and program capacity to increase facility usage and recreation participation. The award will be formally presented in Nanaimo, British Columbia at the Canadian Congress on Leisure Research in May 2026. 

Wilson's efforts towards the advancement of research and assessment in campus recreation are evident in his personal, professional, and academic pursuits. Wilson has led multiple assessment projects as the former Chair of the NIRSA Canadian Research and Assessment committee, published research in the Recreational Sports Journal and presented at conferences hosted by NIRSA. In 2023, he also received the NIRSA Research & Assessment Award for outstanding efforts and service in advancing research and assessment in the field of Collegiate Recreation.

"Trying to balance a full-time job and part-time PhD hasn't been easy, and academia isn't exactly a path that you get a lot of immediate gratification," Wilson explains. "[This] award is a bit of validation that long nights are worth it, and my work is both being noticed and contributing to what we know about campus recreation and how we do things."

Wilson began in the Athletics and Recreation department at Laurier in October 2021. In his role he oversees the execution of the intramural sports program, which has over 8,000 participants annually, and 22 sport clubs, many of which represent the school in interuniversity competition. His firsthand interaction with student participants, referees, and intramural conveners allows him to connect his career interests with his research, which explores how participation in campus recreation programs contributes to the student experience.

He was inspired to pursue an education and career in recreation and leisure from a mentor who was a recreation coordinator. After learning about that role, Wilson saw a chance "to create opportunities for the community to engage in recreational activities, while also teaching developing young people outside of the classroom through part-time employment." As a candidate for his PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the University of Waterloo, Wilson approaches campus recreation as an experiential process, whereby students learn by doing.

Ultimately, Wilson is driven by the positive impact that sport has on university students. He adds that "recreational sport contributes to students' health and well-being, builds a sense of community, and helps them develop transferable workplace skills."

The connection between campus recreation program participation and factors that contribute to academic success, like student retention and graduation rates, also motivates him. He says that "if we want our students to succeed academically, we need to develop strategies that encourage and allow for participation at all levels, beginner to experienced, and ensure we have the necessary capacity for all who want to participate."

For Wilson, the most rewarding aspect of his roles at Laurier is facilitating participation and working with students.