Nik Madsen Memorial Endowment for Whole Heart Leadership
A 2016 UC Santa Cruz graduate, Nik Madsen was a student Rec Leader and a Wilderness Orientation leader. Nik was one of the kindest, most thoughtful and joyful student leaders ever at the Rec. The family of Nik Madsen created this endowment in 2018 to further outdoor leadership development among Adventure Rec student leaders. Since its inception, the endowment has grown to over $200,000.
The endowment provides Rec student staff and volunteers with professional outdoor leadership opportunities. In our most recent year, we had a record amount to allocate ($4,000) with six students receiving funding awards of $200-$760. Each fall, Adventure Rec student leaders are encouraged to apply to receive financial awards to further their leadership development through outdoor professional certifications or related experiences. The annual interest from the Nik Madsen Memorial Endowment makes these awards possible. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making these leadership development opportunities possible.
Read the 2025 Endowment Student Awards Impact Report here.
Here are past year's student recipients and their awards:
2024/25 | |||
| Anna Bluestone | Rec Leader | $760 | Sierra Advanced Leadership Training Course, Burning Daylight Expeditions |
| Charlotte Paul | Rec Leader | $760 | Sierra Advanced Leadership Training Course, Burning Daylight Expeditions |
| Declan Fee | Rec Volunteer | $200 | Whitewater Rafting Guide School, UC Davis Outdoor Adventures |
| Kate Miller | Rec Leader | $760 | Sierra Advanced Leadership Training Course, Burning Daylight Expeditions |
| Kiya Akhenaton | Rec Leader | $760 | Sierra Advanced Leadership Training Course, Burning Daylight Expeditions |
| Yael Kaplan | Rec Leader | $760 | Sierra Advanced Leadership Training Course, Burning Daylight Expeditions |
2023/24 | |||
| Lupin Amstutz | Rec Volunteer | $700 | Whitewater Rafting Guide School, UC Davis Outdoor Adventures |
| Ava Dunlavey | Rec Leader | $700 | Whitewater Rafting Guide School, UC Davis Outdoor Adventures |
| Reuben Ezekiel | Rec Leader | $700 | Whitewater Rafting Guide School, UC Davis Outdoor Adventures |
| Jake Matthews | Rec Leader | $700 | Single Pitch Instructor Course, American Mountain Guides Association |
| Cyrus Siegel | Rec Leader | $500 | Single Pitch Instructor Course, American Mountain Guides Association |
| Emily Steinbomer | Rec-creator | $700 | Trip Leader Course, National Outdoor Leadership Course |
2022/23 | |||
| Sheil Grandhi | Rec Volunteer | $1,165 | Southwest Leaders of Color Expedition, National Outdoor Leadership School |
| Sabina Javier | Rec Leader | $725 | Whitewater Rafting Guide School, UC Davis Outdoor Adventures |
| Gracie Mendoza | Rec Leader | $700 | Southwest Leaders of Color Expedition, National Outdoor Leadership School |
2021/22 | |||
| Sylvie Amstutz | Rec Leader | $800 | Single Pitch Instructor Course, American Mountain Guides Association |
| Rosie Campbell | Rec Leader | $1,200 | Coastal Kayak Level 3 Course, American Canoe Association |
| Oliver Silverman | Rec Leader | $1,200 | Single Pitch Instructor Course, American Mountain Guides Association |
2020/21 | |||
| Kinley Hartigan | Rec Leader, Rec Rental | $1,400 | Wilderness First Responder, National Outdoor Leadership School |
| Raul Gonzalez | Rec Volunteer | $738 | People of Color Southwest Climbing Expedition, National Outdoor Leadership School |
| Shayna Amster | Rec Leader | $1,200 | California Pro Whitewater Rafting Guide Training, ARTA |
2019/20 | |||
| Nicolette Hodgson | Rec Leader | $1,345 | Pacific Northwest Trip Leader Course, National Outdoor Leadership School |
| Ruben Perez | Rec Leader | $750 | Wilderness First Responder, National Outdoor Leadership School |
| Evan Somma | Surf Instructor | $240 | Swiftwater Rescue certification course |
