George Williams College of Aurora University honors alum Gordon Kaplan of Deerfield at Coming Home Reunion

AURORA, IL (10/13/2011)(readMedia)-- George Williams College of Aurora University honored alumnus Gordon E. Kaplan of Deerfield, Ill., at the fifth annual Coming Home Reunion dinner on Sept. 24.

Kaplan, a 1970 graduate of GWC, was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award in the Beasley Campus Center on the Williams Bay, Wis., campus. Rita Yerkes, Dean Emeritus and Senior Research Fellow, presented Kaplan's award.

"For his lifelong commitment to the field of outdoor education, for his tireless fundraising efforts to help others experience the joys of camping, and for the teacher he has been for more than 40 years to others in the profession, the Aurora University Alumni Association is proud to award him a Distinguished Alumnus Award," Yerkes said.

Kaplan is known by many colleagues as "Mr. Camping, USA." He enrolled in the master's in camping and outdoor recreation program at George Williams College after graduating from the University of Minnesota. At GWC, he immersed himself in growing the university's fledgling outdoor education program.

In just three years, as Director of Outdoor Education at GWC, he grew the program to 3,000 students by researching the most effective ways to integrate school curriculum with outdoor education. His commitment to innovation and high standards planted the seeds for the programs that GWC offers today on the Geneva Lake campus.

In 1970, Kaplan pursued a career dedicated to furthering outdoor education throughout the Midwest. Kaplan worked for the American Camping Association, the ACA, in both Missouri and Illinois. In 1996, he became executive director of the ACA's Illinois section, where he works tirelessly to promote camping and ensure that camps throughout the state adhere to high teaching standards.

Kaplan's greatest legacies are his work in designing ACA camp director training programs and ensuring that underprivileged children have the opportunity to attend camp.

"His warm demeanor and hearty laugh draw in young people, and his example inspires camp counselors to pursue careers in service of others," Yerkes said. "Throughout his career, he developed training programs for camp directors to ensure that the profession maintains its integrity and values."

Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. Approximately 4,400 degree-seeking students are enrolled each year on the university's Illinois and Wisconsin campuses, and the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels.

The 133-acre George Williams College campus offers 18 academic programs, year-round conference facilities, and is home to Music by the Lake and other educational and enrichment programs. Originally founded as a training school for YMCA leaders in the late 19th century, GWC today prepares students for lives of service through a number of degree programs. Aurora University and George Williams College merged in 2000.

For more information on George Williams College, visit aurora.edu/gwc or call 262-245-5531.

Posted Thursday October 13, 2011 at 01:04 pm by Aurora University
Last Updated Thursday October 13, 2011 at 01:17 pm