Jill Hastings (nee Schulte) BPE, MSc, CHE (she/her) is a Member at Large on the Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation Alumni Association (KSRAA) executive. KSRAA represents all graduates from KSR programs (including the Bachelor of Kinesiology, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Coaching and PhD programs). KSRAA’s goal is to promote, connect and engage the KSR community as well as inform them of new developments in the Faculty. 

KSRAA is not Jill’s first experience on a board, but her interest in physical education and leadership, as well as a desire for community connections brought her back to her Faculty through her alumni chapter: “Volunteering can take a lot of personal time so you have to really want to do it – find something you are passionate about” she says.  As she was already active in campus events such as U of A Days, combined with the fact that she has “always loved her Phys. Ed family”, joining the board felt like the right fit for her.

Jill’s favorite part of volunteering with KSRAA has definitely been the relationships with others, including other volunteers that she’s built along the way, calling them her “lifelong U of A family”. She enjoys giving back to her University community, while being able to feel connected to what is going on.

KSRAA held their annual golf tournament this June that Jill was heavily involved in the planning and execution. An avid golfer, Jill was able to apply her love for the sport into creating a fantastic community event that not only has raised money for student scholarships, but also provided an opportunity for KSRAA alumni to come together, meet and network while highlighting member accomplishments such as local alumni-owned businesses. It was a great way to mix both business and passion. 

Jill’s advice to prospective volunteers is firstly to find something you are interested in. The biggest thing, she says, is to find out what the expectations are, and see if it’s something that you can fit into your life. If you are looking at becoming a member of a board for example, “try out a meeting as a test and see if you like it. Give it a trial run and see if you like the group dynamic and events being planned ”. When you find the right fit, your contributions can build a meaningful volunteer experience. 

You can learn more about volunteering with your Campus Chapter online here.

This Volunteer spotlight was written by Courtney Wagner.