Each year ATA offers its members an opportunity to apply for several scholarships given in
honor of some of the outstanding leaders of the activity profession. Applications for each
scholarship are accepted between February 1st and June 1st each year. The recipients are
announced at the June annual meeting.
The Madge Schweinsberg Memorial Scholarship pays the cost of registration to the
IAPA conference for an activity director and ATA member planning to attend the IAPA
conference.
Madge, formerly a teacher and interior decorator, was offered the position as an activity
director by her brother, a nursing home administrator. With her strong background in art
and teaching, and her love of music, he knew she would make an outstanding activity
director, a job she did with great expertise and enthusiasm for approximately twenty years.
Having no experience in nursing homes, Madge recognized the need for activity directors to
have more education in order to do their jobs effectively. Because there was a lack of
information on activities as a profession, she helped organize ATA, which led to IAPA, and
eventually NAAP. She was instrumental in establishing NCCAP and served as the first
reviewer for professional certification. Madge was a true visionary in the field of activities
and her influence is still felt more than thirty years later.
The Gayle Allen-Burket Memorial Scholarship pays the cost for one of the following:
registration to the IAPA conference; activity supplies and/or resources at a cost determined
by the ATA board; or complimentary 2009-2010 ATA member package, which includes
September Seminar registration, 2009-2010 ATA membership, and registration for the ATA
Activity Assistants’ Workshop.
Gayle began her career as an activity assistant. Throughout her career, she stressed the
importance of activity assistants taking advantage of educational opportunities available to
them. She was a mentor to many activity professionals and a nationally known educator in
the field of activities. As a leader of ATA and IAPA, she encouraged both organizations to
offer continuing education geared toward activity assistants in the field. With her
encouragement and help many activity assistants have gone on to become activity directors,
consultants, and leaders in the profession.
The Cindy Gearring Memorial Scholarship is a one-year membership to ATA.
Cindy was a long-time member of ATA. She worked in activities with the elderly, mentally ill,
and developmentally disabled populations. Cindy gave herself to her profession, was
always willing to help others, and was a mentor to members of ATA. As a long-time member
of the executive board, Cindy worked tirelessly on many projects and always supported all of
the association’s efforts.
The Susan Quattrochi-Tubin Fellowship pays the cost of tuition for an ATA member to
take the Activity Director’s Basic Course.
Susan teaches the Activity Director’s Basic Course at Oakton Community College and has
been a leader in the field of activities for over twenty-five years. Her enthusiasm for the
work she does is truly inspirational. She has presented workshops on all subjects pertaining
to activities and written many articles for professional journals. She is an inspiration and
mentor to many in her chosen profession.
The Esther Davis Award was developed by the ATA board to recognize the support of the
activity profession by someone outside the field. ATA presented this award for the first time
in 2001 to a person who exhibited outstanding commitment to enhancing the activity
profession and the residents’ quality of life through the provision of quality activity
programming.
This award is named in honor of Esther Davis, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
and mentor to many activity professionals. Esther began her career as an activity assistant
and later became a consultant. She left the activity profession to work for a large healthcare
provider and continues to lobby for and support the profession. Esther is best known as an
educator, providing educational programs and workshops across Illinois. She has written
many professional articles and produced several books in cooperation with other authors.
Criteria:
1. Actively support and be involved in projects that further the
activity profession, activity programs, and quality of life for the residents.
2. Make a visible contribution to the activity profession through his/her leadership example.
3. Demonstrate support for continuing education and skill development of activity
professionals at all levels of employment and experience.
Scholarship and Nomination Forms
Madge Schweinsberg Memorial Scholarship
Gayle Allen-Burket Memorial Scholarship
Cindy Gearring Memorial Scholarship
Susan Quattrochi-Tubin Fellowship
honor of some of the outstanding leaders of the activity profession. Applications for each
scholarship are accepted between February 1st and June 1st each year. The recipients are
announced at the June annual meeting.
The Madge Schweinsberg Memorial Scholarship pays the cost of registration to the
IAPA conference for an activity director and ATA member planning to attend the IAPA
conference.
Madge, formerly a teacher and interior decorator, was offered the position as an activity
director by her brother, a nursing home administrator. With her strong background in art
and teaching, and her love of music, he knew she would make an outstanding activity
director, a job she did with great expertise and enthusiasm for approximately twenty years.
Having no experience in nursing homes, Madge recognized the need for activity directors to
have more education in order to do their jobs effectively. Because there was a lack of
information on activities as a profession, she helped organize ATA, which led to IAPA, and
eventually NAAP. She was instrumental in establishing NCCAP and served as the first
reviewer for professional certification. Madge was a true visionary in the field of activities
and her influence is still felt more than thirty years later.
The Gayle Allen-Burket Memorial Scholarship pays the cost for one of the following:
registration to the IAPA conference; activity supplies and/or resources at a cost determined
by the ATA board; or complimentary 2009-2010 ATA member package, which includes
September Seminar registration, 2009-2010 ATA membership, and registration for the ATA
Activity Assistants’ Workshop.
Gayle began her career as an activity assistant. Throughout her career, she stressed the
importance of activity assistants taking advantage of educational opportunities available to
them. She was a mentor to many activity professionals and a nationally known educator in
the field of activities. As a leader of ATA and IAPA, she encouraged both organizations to
offer continuing education geared toward activity assistants in the field. With her
encouragement and help many activity assistants have gone on to become activity directors,
consultants, and leaders in the profession.
The Cindy Gearring Memorial Scholarship is a one-year membership to ATA.
Cindy was a long-time member of ATA. She worked in activities with the elderly, mentally ill,
and developmentally disabled populations. Cindy gave herself to her profession, was
always willing to help others, and was a mentor to members of ATA. As a long-time member
of the executive board, Cindy worked tirelessly on many projects and always supported all of
the association’s efforts.
The Susan Quattrochi-Tubin Fellowship pays the cost of tuition for an ATA member to
take the Activity Director’s Basic Course.
Susan teaches the Activity Director’s Basic Course at Oakton Community College and has
been a leader in the field of activities for over twenty-five years. Her enthusiasm for the
work she does is truly inspirational. She has presented workshops on all subjects pertaining
to activities and written many articles for professional journals. She is an inspiration and
mentor to many in her chosen profession.
The Esther Davis Award was developed by the ATA board to recognize the support of the
activity profession by someone outside the field. ATA presented this award for the first time
in 2001 to a person who exhibited outstanding commitment to enhancing the activity
profession and the residents’ quality of life through the provision of quality activity
programming.
This award is named in honor of Esther Davis, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
and mentor to many activity professionals. Esther began her career as an activity assistant
and later became a consultant. She left the activity profession to work for a large healthcare
provider and continues to lobby for and support the profession. Esther is best known as an
educator, providing educational programs and workshops across Illinois. She has written
many professional articles and produced several books in cooperation with other authors.
Criteria:
1. Actively support and be involved in projects that further the
activity profession, activity programs, and quality of life for the residents.
2. Make a visible contribution to the activity profession through his/her leadership example.
3. Demonstrate support for continuing education and skill development of activity
professionals at all levels of employment and experience.
Scholarship and Nomination Forms
Madge Schweinsberg Memorial Scholarship
Gayle Allen-Burket Memorial Scholarship
Cindy Gearring Memorial Scholarship
Susan Quattrochi-Tubin Fellowship
