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LCSC prof receives prestigious award, despite ceremony cancellation
LWEISTON, Idaho - It isn't always easy being presented an important award. Certainly not for Dr. Marika Botha, Professor of Kinesiology and Health at Lewis-Clark State College.
Botha was in Boston in March, to receive the Outstanding Collegiate Educator Award at the 2012 National Convention for the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The award is the most prestigious honor a College/University Health Professor can earn. The membership in the organization includes all colleges and universities in the United States.
She, along with a colleague, arrived at their hotel, had dinner and called it a day. Then the power went out. After an hour an announcement was made that there was limited emergency lighting in the halls and stairways and that the power problem should be fixed by morning. In the meantime, people kept checking into the hotel. One elevator was working, but student volunteers had to carry luggage up the stairs for the newly arrived.
The next morning they were told that two transformers had caught fire, causing the convention center and more than 20,000 residents and businesses within five blocks to lose power. They were still hoping the problem could be solved and a few socials and meetings were held in the dark or in restaurants outside the blackout area, but there was no real way to let attendees know about them.
Because Botha's award was such a tremendous professional honor, they waited and waited…hoping the ceremony would happen.
Unfortunately, the convention was eventually cancelled. But the good news is, Botha received her award and numerous sympathy letters in the mail.
Dr. Botha, a native of Namibia, joined the LCSC Health and Kinesiology faculty in 1985 and has feathered her cap as President of the National Sport Art Academy; President of The Idaho Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; NWAAHPERD's Vice President for Recreation; Co-Initiator and Director of American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance's National Video Contest and National Readers Theater; and Presenter at over 50 national, regional and international conventions or workshops. Dr. Botha's motor development film, photography, sculptures, and sport jewelry have been displayed nationally.
While at LCSC, Dr. Botha has developed 18 new courses and 10 courses for the online curriculum. She has received numerous awards and grants for course development that highlight practical, hands-on experiences for students. Her creative, spicy teaching personality has added a rich splash of color to the college experience of LCSC faculty and hundreds of students.
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