Outlook 2016 - Part 2

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STRETCHING THE BOUNDARIES

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016

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Jim Bowling, Herald & Review

Nurse Lizabeth Hernandez teaches a clinical class at St. Mary’s Hospital.

A passion ignited

GROWING SPORT

Lizabeth Hernandez knew early on nursing was her true calling NICOLE HARBOUR For the Herald & Review

Photos by Aren Dow, Herald & Review

Bobby Harrison, of Decatur, tees off on the hole No. 2 at the disc golf course at Nelson Park.

Golf with a twist New sport's popularity taking flight with two courses AREN DOW H&R Staff Writer

D

ECATUR – After seeing a friend post on Facebook how much he enjoyed playing disc golf, Chris Wentworth decided to give it a try. He found out there was a course at Nelson Park where the golf course used to be, but after the first time he was lukewarm on the idea. But then he played with someone who had experience, and his whole perspective changed. "I was in awe of how far you could throw," Wentworth said. "All the different things you could make them do, the variables with wind, there's a lot more to it than just throwing a Frisbee; there's a lot of science. I was hooked. I bought a bag, 10 discs, and I was out here five days a week." It transformed from a hobby to a workout plan that fueled his competitive side. "I don't know how many miles you walk, but I lost 50 pounds that first summer," he said. "I mean, it's great exercise, and you don't even feel it: You're Chris Wentworth, disc golfer just having fun." He's seen a sport he loves undergo its own transformation since another course was put in Forsyth Park this past summer. When he started, there were other people who came out to play, but the additional course has infused a new set of players into the sport. "I think there are more kids out in Forsyth at the park; I think it's more visible than it is here," he said. "I think there's been a lot more people start playing because of Forsyth, and they're using both courses." Wentworth said it's an attractive sport for families. Once the initial investment of a disc, or Frisbee, is made, playing is free. And when the peak times to play are during the summer when kids are out of school, those two dovetail together. But beyond giving the public another recreation outlet, the addition of another course to

"I don't know how many miles you walk, but I lost 50 pounds that first summer. I mean, it's great exercise, and you don't even feel it: You're just having fun."

Brandon Zerfowski lines up his putt at the disc golf course at Nelson Park.

With the addition of a course at Forsyth Park to the one at Nelson Park, above, there are two options for a growing sport in the Decatur area. the area gives the Decatur a chance to host tournaments that bring in players from Illinois and surrounding states. While most golf tournaments use the same course with different hole positions between rounds, disc golf typically uses multiple courses for one tournament. Having two courses in close vicinity makes a difference. The purses of the tournaments aren't comparable to golf. The largest purse ever for a disc golf tournament was in Peoria last year. That $117,453 purse was right around last year's

$110,000 Decatur-Forsyth Open held at Hickory Point Golf Course. Despite the gap in prizes, there are still a significant number of players. Many such as Wentworth have turned a hobby in a competitive outlet, while still having a family. That Peoria tournament hosted 682 players – the 326 professional players played three days, and the 356 amateur players played two – bringing plenty of competitors in to fill hotel rooms and frequent restaurants. This May, the Forsyth course is hosting a B Tier, a class of tournament that typically brings in about 100 people. And there is talk of hosting a larger-caliber tournament down the road. "People are traveling. They're taking weekends off and traveling hundreds of miles to play in tournaments," Wentworth said. "That's good for Decatur and Forsyth." But while the courses may be able to hold tournaments, they're also a cheap option to stay active and be outside. While some play constantly in the hopes of improving, there are plenty who play just for fun. "My 11-year old comes out and plays," Bobby Harrison said. "Just to keep him interested in it with his short attention span, he loves coming out here and play." "You can play in an hour, and you can play several courses in a day," Wentworth added. "You don't need a tee time to play, you don't need to keep buying golf balls. You can play with one disc and have a good time." adow@herald-review.com| (217) 421-6978

Some struggle with deciding on a career path, but Lizabeth Hernandez felt a calling to care for others from an early age. “I always wanted to go into health professions,” said Hernandez, 30, a Woodstock native. “When I was in high school (in Marengo, Ill.), I was part of a health professions group and I was also the unofficial sports trainer for our football, softball and basketball teams, so I wrapped ankles and prepared ice packs. So nursing was a natural transition for me; I knew I wanted to help people.” Hernandez’s desire to care for others propelled her through college at Millikin University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2008 and graduated with her master’s in nursing education in 2013. But her teachers and classes at Millikin didn’t just prepare her for the nursing field and teaching nursing students; they also helped ignite her passion for psychiatric nursing. “Like many nurses in undergrad, I wasn’t exactly sure what (area of nursing) I wanted to go into,” Hernandez explained, “but when I finished (in 2008), looking back, I absolutely knew I loved psychiatric nursing the most.” That love grew as Hernandez worked on the psychiatric floors of St. John’s Hospital in Springfield and St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, and as director of assisted living at Imboden Creek Gardens. And last fall, that love and passion - which she has been imparting to nursing students at Richland Community College the past two years - was formally recognized when Hernandez was honored as one of the 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders in Illinois. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) of Illinois, the award – sponsored by the ANA of Illinois and the Illinois Healthcare Action Coalition (IHAC) – honors 40 nurses under the age of 40 who have shown dedication in their service to the population, the profession and to leadership for the advancement of nursing in Illinois. The award recognizes nurses in the areas of innovation/new knowledge/research, visionary transformational leadership, professional development, exemplary professional practice, community engagement and policy development. Nominated by her fellow Richland nursing instructor Karen Vercellino, Hernandez, who teaches a psychiatric nursing class for Richland’s Associate Degree of Nursing program, was “shocked” when she learned of her nomination and subsequent award. “I guess I’ve always done what I do and I don’t necessarily feel like I deserve any recognition for doing what I love, so I was just totally taken aback,” she explained. “I couldn’t believe they (her co-workers, the ANA of Illinois and the IHAC) felt so strongly that I was doing so good at what I was doing and that I’d made such an impact in the nursing field.” Attending the inaugural 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders awards banquet last September at Rush University in Chicago, Hernandez - who serves on the board of the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Macon County, as well as the Heritage Behavioral Health Center board – was honored for her leadership in the Decatur community, as well as in nursing. Vercellino said she couldn’t think of a more deserving candidate for the 40 Under 40 award. “Liz brings a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge of mental health to our students,” said Vercellino, who has worked with Hernandez for three years. “She’s such a good role model for them, and the fact

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