On November 9, the College of Health and Human Services will host the 2018 Health and Human Services Hero Awards to recognize the unsung heroes in our community whose actions, thoughts and words have had a transformative impact in our region. We will highlight the nine honorees in our Heroes Blog Series.
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Name: Mikal Kirchner
Occupation: Recreation and Community Services Director, City of Selma
Nominated by: Department of Recreation Administration
In the small town of Selma, there are plenty of spacious parks and ample green space for residents to take advantage of. One person who has led the charge on this is Mikal Kirchner, recreation and community services director with the City of Selma – a position he has held for the past 23 years.
He says it is important to offer these kinds of service to the community and its residents.
“People need outlets and fun ways to help balance their life from work, school, stress or whatever the case may be. The opportunities that Recreation Departments provide are endless, affordable and help build the quality of life for each community.”
The ability for others to simply “enjoy life” through recreation is what encourages Kirchner each day in his role, where he helps plan new parks and recreation facilities for the town with a population of just over 23,000.
Kirchner is a familiar face at Fresno State. It is where he received his bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration in 1989 and where he often comes back to speak with current students in the field. His support for the students is paramount, often providing internships and professional development opportunities for students wanting to attend the annual California Parks and Recreation Society conference.
He says helping and encouraging future recreation professionals is the simply the best way he can give back to the community and profession.
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The 2018 Health and Human Services Hero Awards, which celebrates heroes from each of the seven departments, as well as centers and institutes within our college, will be held on November 9, 2018 at Fresno State. For more information on the event, contact Beth Wilkinson at 559.278.3603 or bwilkinson@csufresno.edu.
Fresno State College of Health and Human Services 