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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Sport Management Professor Richard LaRue receives highest honor of the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation

Richard J. LaRue, D.P.E., professor and NAS Fellow, in the University of New England Department of Business and Communications, has been recognized by the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) with the "Pathfinder" Award, the association's highest honor. 

The award was presented at the 2012 National Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, in Boston, Mass. on March 15. 

AAPAR Pathfinder Award   

Introduced in 2010, the Pathfinder recognizes a member who has made a significant difference to AAPAR and to one or more of its structures. Qualifications for the award include outstanding leadership in the profession; educational contributions encompassing more than one facet of physical activity or recreation, such as service, scholarship, or teaching; educational contributions of national significance through the medium of physical activity or recreation; and social and humanitarian concerns.

Richard LaRue

Dr. LaRue is the third recipient of this prestigious award.  A member of American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and AAPAR/American Association for Active Lifestyles and Fitness (AAALF) for over 30 years, he has served in a number of leadership roles, including president [president-elect and past president] (five years) of AAPAR; AAALF representative to AAHPERD Board of Governors (six years); chair [chair-elect and past chair] of the Council for Facilities and Equipment (seven years); and on numerous association and national committees, including: the AAHPERD Social Justice Committee, the AAHPERD School and Community Committee, the AAHPERD Finance Committee, the AAPAR Awards and Nominations Committee, and the AAPAR and AAALF Executive Committees.

LaRue is a fellow of the North American Society for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance.  He has served on the National Association for Sport and Physical Education-North American Society for Sport Management Sport Management Program Review Council both as a reviewer (six years) and as a member of the council (three years).  While involved with the SMPRC, the council was responsible for reviewing applicant sport management degree programs (undergraduate, graduate and doctoral) in the United States and Canada.

Over the years of his involvement with AAHPERD, Dr. LaRue was awarded the AAALF and AAPAR Honor Awards, two AAPAR Presidential Citations, and several Council-Level Awards for Leadership, Recognition and/or Service.

Dr. LaRue is completing his 14th year of service at the University of New England, in the College of Arts and Sciences; and his 31st year of teaching in higher education. 

He began his career as a professional director with the YMCA of the USA (four locations over five years); and has taught internationally for both UNE (Israel College) and the United States Sports Academy (Hong Kong, Singapore, Aruba, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai (both in the United Arab Emirates). 

The USSA courses were delivered to selected sport leaders, with courses typically sponsored by their respective Olympic Committee or Governmental Sports Organization.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.