Every two weeks, Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary research and accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students and faculty.
Deep dive into water safety
A handful of Radford students are doing much more than getting their feet wet with classroom discussions this semester when learning about water-based outdoor recreation activities. They’re getting an immersive in-the-water education in nearby rivers and lakes.
Twenty-four students in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism (RCPT) 229 course have been learning whitewater paddling techniques, river reading, route planning and other skills while canoeing the New River.
“We've also had them learning specialized skills such as handling potential patients with various physical or mental disabilities and how to best deal with these situations in a water recreation scenario,” said RCPT Professor Josh Carroll, who teaches a section of the water-based course along with Assistant Professor of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Joshua Roe.
This week, the course material switched from rivers to lakes. Carroll and his students guided a small boat – a Catalina 22 named Ceilidh – on Claytor Lake, learning the basic principles of sailing, such as the “dynamics of upwind and downwind sailing, points of sail and basic boat-handling skills,” Carroll explained.
The course also covers basic powerboat operations and safety, and students will earn their Virginia boater safety certification during the course.
There has been high demand for the course, with both spring semester sections filling up fast. Carroll said the course may be offered again in the fall 2025 semester.
“So far,” he said, “the course has been a tremendous success.”
Making ‘outstanding contributions to nurse practitioners’
College of Nursing Assistant Professor Sarah Knoeckel is the 2025 winner of the Education Award from the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP).
The award honors a VCNP member who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to nurse practitioners in the area of education and patient care. VCNP, the statewide professional association for all nurse practitioners licensed in Virginia, recognized Knoeckel and other award winners at its annual conference in March.
“I believe that when I am recognized for excellence in my teaching, our College of Nursing and Radford University are also recognized,” Knoeckel said, “and I believe education is what we do best at Radford.”
In addition to teaching at Radford, Knoeckel is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) at Tri-Area Community Health Center in Floyd, Virginia. She has also served as a preceptor for Radford FNP students in clinical practice since 2010.
Design professor receives Arnold P. Friedmann Educator of Distinction award
Joan Dickinson of Radford University’s Department of Design has been awarded the prestigious
2025 Arnold P. Friedmann Educator of Distinction Award by the Interior Design Educators
Council. The honor, which is open to candidates from around the world, recognizes
demonstrated leadership in interior design education, impact on the profession and
excellence in teaching. Read more.
Honors College students share their research at VCHC annual conference
In early April, four Radford Honors College students presented their research at the Virginia Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC) annual conference at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia.
The student presentations were:
- “Assessing Species Delimitation Performance with Environmental DNA,” by Abbi Green, a senior mathematics major.
- “A Dendroecological Study of a Woodlot in Selu Conservancy,” by Jade Horton, sophomore Geospatial Science major.
- “LGBTQ+ College Students and Food Security,” by Olivia Houck, a senior sociology major.
- “The Imagery of Entrails: Examining the Political Messaging in Splatterpunk Novels,” by Jude Elgart, a senior English major.
The VCHC connects universities, colleges and community colleges throughout Virginia and West Virginia to support and enhance programs and activities to meet the needs of exceptionally talented and motivated students. “The Power of Connection: Cultivating Communities for Student Success” was the theme for the 2025 conference.