The award honors distinguished professionals in the field of leisure and recreation who are considered to be a positive role model epitomizing the values and desired outcomes of recreation and demonstrates enthusiasm for the profession.

Smith has been active in SHAPE America, formerly AAHPERD and now the Society of Health and Physical Educators, for almost 30 years. She has taught at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ for 18 years in the Department of Health & Human Performance and has been actively involved in the profession as evidenced by her many publications, presentations, and committee work.

Smith’s nominators focused on her knowledge, leadership and enthusiasm related to Outdoor Adventure Education and Recreation as being exemplary. They noted the development of a minor in Adventure Based Education along with implementing adventure education with study abroad programs. They commended her passion about her efforts and stated she is truly a leader and avid supporter of Recreation. One reference wrote “All totaled, Carol Smith is one of the most outstanding recreation professionals currently a member of the Southern District of SHAPE America”.

​The article focuses on the rise of mobile devices, such as cell phones, and the impact they have on students studying abroad. Students discussed their feelings of being disconnected and describe how disconnecting impacted their overall experience. Participants in the study agreed that disconnecting from technology (specifically cell phones) had positive effects on experiential learning and the global experience.

Major themes included students’ enhanced immersion and engagement, the value of disconnection in providing opportunities for personal growth, and the difficulty of initial separation from technology as a result of conditioning.

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The book discusses teachers as characters in popular media and examines what can be learned from fictional teachers to help educate actual teachers. By exploring the teacher construct, readers are able to consider how fiction and film have influenced society’s understandings and views of classroom teachers. 

Written to four themes to help educate the preservice teacher—identifying with the teacher image; constructing the teacher with content; imaging the teacher as savior; the teacher construct as commentary—the book investigates the complex combination of truth, typecast and distortion of the teacher in the public eye and presents popular culture as curriculum. Through text about fictional teachers, preservice as well as current teachers can investigate various representations of self (positive or negative) for areas of professional development.

She also co-presented a 2-hour workshop on the “ABCs of Adventure Based Learning in Physical Education,” which focused on issues of anti-bullying and promoting 21st Century skills in learners through SHAPE America’s National Standards 4 & 5.

Smith was voted onto the Leadership Council for Southern District (consisting of 13 southern states from Virginia to Texas). 

SHAPE America is the Society of Health & Physical Educators.

Robinson was a leader in ASAHPERD and served as president, and AL (she served as health and physical education consultant for the State Department of Education) for many years prior to her death. 

Smith’s keynote presentation addressed the current concerns relating to nature deficit disorder in children. This syndrome, popularized by Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods, discusses how today’s children are not taking  advantage of all that nature has to offer and are not as active as previous generations.

Bailey received her award on  March 17 at a presentation on Wake’s campus where she spoke to faculty and graduate students in the Department of Health and Exercise Science about her career path and experiences since receiving her master’s degree.

The NCAAHPERD is one of the oldest professional associations in North Carolina dedicated to the advancement of search and education within the fields of Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. There are currently 2,500+ members in the organization.