From renovated historic facilities to wellness-focused programs, Campus Rec Magazine’s 2025 cover stories highlighted how departments across the U.S. are shaping the future of student recreation.
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on how campus recreation departments nationwide have evolved and innovated throughout the year. Campus Rec Magazine’s 2025 cover stories showcase a wide range of initiatives all designed to meet the changing needs of students and to foster vibrant, inclusive communities.
Take a look at the cover stories from each issue of the year below.
The Renovated War Memorial Hall is a Cornerstone at Virginia Tech
Our first cover story of the year explored Virginia Tech’s journey to update War Memorial Hall, a century-old campus landmark. The facility had become outdated and no longer met student needs, resulting in the decision to renovate in 2016. While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction, funding shifts and multiple redesigns also extended the project timeline. Construction finally broke ground in October 2022, with the grand reopening celebrated in September 2024.
After the project was complete, Kyle LeDuc, the associate director of Facility Operations at Virginia Tech, recalled overhearing a student Facetiming their father from the weight room: “I heard the dad say, ‘You’re so lucky. It was a dungeon when I worked out there,’” he said. “It’s not only just the positive reaction; we’re able to serve students in a different way than we were able to before.”
The renovated War Memorial Hall now offers modernized fitness and recreation spaces, expanded intramural programs and spaces for academic use. The updates help the facility foster community, accessibility and engagement, positioning it as a cornerstone of student recreation at Virginia Tech.
Read the January/February cover story now to find out more about War Memorial Hall at Virginia Tech.
Piecing Together Wellness at Radford University
At Radford University, Student Recreation and Wellness knows what image it’s trying to build. Like a jigsaw puzzle, D.J. Preston, the director of Recreation and Wellness, and his team are working to find the right pieces to put together to create that picture. Rather than treating wellness as a one-size-fits-all concept, the department focused on integrating fitness, mental health, outdoor recreation and inclusive programming to support students across multiple aspects of well-being.
“Our approach centers on flexibility, inclusivity and listening to student needs so we can help them find balance no matter where they are on their wellness journey,” said Preston.
The cover story for our March/April issue highlighted how Radford University built a campus recreation department uniquely suited to its student body by prioritizing adaptability, collaboration and intentional program design.
Check out the March/April cover story now to explore Student Recreation and Wellness at Radford University.
Counting Every Blessing at Samford University
When the incoming president toured Samford University’s Student Affairs spaces in 2021, he made sure to stop by Seibert Hall, the campus’s rec center, and decided it wasn’t suitable for the student body. Since the 60-year-old facility hadn’t had many improvements over the years, the $85 million renovation covered all 165,000 square feet and four floors of the center.
Officially opened in September 2024, Lauren Taylor, the associate vice president of Student Affairs, said the impact has already been great. “Seeing guests enter the renovated space on opening weekend and hearing the excitement and amazement over the beauty and offerings of the space has been a highlight of my 24-year professional career,” she said. “Our data on the usage of the facility and participation in programming shows our community loves and appreciates the new building.”
Be sure to check out our Buyer’s Guide in the May/June issue, which is full of industry products and solutions your team can count on.
To learn more about the renovated Seibert Hall at Samford University, read the May/June cover story now.
Something for Everyone at the University of Wyoming
Our July/August cover story examines how Campus Recreation at the University of Wyoming (UW) blends history, modern services and community engagement to create a recreation department truly offering “something for everyone.”
At the heart of this effort is the Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center, a facility dating back to 1925 that has evolved over the decades to meet changing student needs. A major renovation and expansion completed in 2016 transformed the space.
“The center has played a key role in meeting the physical education and wellness needs of the university community for many years,” said Pat Moran, the director of Campus Recreation at UW. By honoring its history while innovating in service, programming and partnerships, UW shaped an inclusive space where all members of the campus community can thrive.
Discover how UW Campus Recreation created a space for everybody by reading the July/August cover story here.
University of San Diego’s New Heartbeat on Campus
At the University of San Diego (USD), the new Palomar Health Student Wellness Center (Center) has been dubbed the new heartbeat of campus, with 80,000 square feet dedicated to wellness that’s radical, inclusive, student-driven and deeply human.
One standout aspect of the Center is its Wellness Wing, dedicated to supporting mental and emotional resources. “The development of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center was driven by student input, national wellness trends and an intentional desire to create a multidimensional wellness space — one that meets physical, mental, emotional and social needs,” said Kimmel Yeager, the executive director of the Center.
Now and into the future, they’re reimagining what wellness can be — which is radical, inclusive, student-driven and deeply human — via the new heartbeat on campus. Our September/October cover story dove into the construction process and explored how the Center became an on-campus hub for well-being.
Read the September/October cover story now to explore USD’s new campus rec facility.
Always Getting Better at UIC RecWell
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) recently worked to adopt a new mission of being a health-promoting campus, and UIC Recreation and Wellbeing (RecWell) helped to lead the charge with out-of-the-box thinking, adaptability and community reach.
“We’re not just a gym — we’re a catalyst for student success, a hub for community, and a leader in advancing well-being through education, innovation and inclusion,” said Lynne Thompson, the senior director of UIC RecWell.
In our final cover story of the year, we explored the standout programs and services helping UIC RecWell execute its health-promoting mission. From successes like the Exercise is Medicine On Campus initiative to adapting through setbacks with facilities, the campus rec team at UIC is committed to adapting to the new vision.
Check out the November/December cover story here to learn more about UIC RecWell.
2025 Cover Stories and Looking Ahead
As the year wraps up, these six cover stories underscore the creativity, adaptability and commitment of campus recreation departments nationwide. Looking ahead to 2026, the lessons and innovations from this year serve as a blueprint for how campus recreation can continue evolving to meet the changing needs of students and enrich campus life.
Thank you to all of our readers and contributors in 2025 for your continued support. We appreciate each one of you and look forward to what you’ll do in the new year. We wouldn’t be here without you.
