Sonya Shaw, Garner’s Parks and Recreation director, was recently inducted into the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Rho Phi Lambda, the National Honorary Recreation, Park and Leisure Services Fraternity at North Carolina Central University.

The purpose of the Rho Phi Lambda National Honorary Fraternity is to recognize superior recreation, parks and leisure services students and professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of recreation, parks and leisure services.

North Carolina Central University honored chapter inductees at its annual Physical Education and Recreation Depart-ment’s Annual Spring Banquet, which honored Dr. Leroy T. Walker, Past President of the U.S. Olympic Committee. The keynote speaker was Charles Foster, Olympian and NCCU Alumni. Shaw was recognized for her 18 years of service in the parks and recreation profession. She began her parks and recreation career while still an undergraduate attending The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

After completing an internship with the Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department and graduating from North Carolina, she was hired as an Athletics Specialist with the Town of Chapel Hill. She was later promoted to numerous supervisory roles managing programming areas such as Community Centers, Aquatics, Special Events, Special Populations and Marketing for a period of 15 years.

Shaw also coached women’s high school and college basketball for nearly 10 years and taught as an adjunct instructor at Durham Technical Community College for two years. Shaw accepted her first Director position with the City of Goldsboro and served there for nearly two years.

She has been the Director of Garner Parks and Recreation Department since December 2008. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administra-tion degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Master of Public Administration and Master of Counseling degrees from North Carolina Central University.

She is a member of the North Carolina Recrea-tion and Park Associa-tion serving on both the Marketing and Elec-tions committees.

She is also a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., UNC General Alumni Association, North Carolina Central University Eagle Club and serves as an Advisory Board Mem-ber for the Physical Education and Recrea-tion Department at North Carolina Central University.