Recreation Therapy Student Finds Her Calling

When Skylar Spencer left her hometown of Lexington, Massachusetts, to attend UNC Wilmington, she took a leap of faith. “I’m a homebody, and I really didn’t think I’d end up this far from home, but UNCW just felt right,” Spencer said. When she learned UNCW's Recreation Therapy program is accredited by The Committee on Accreditation for Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE), one of only a handful in the country and one of very few in the state, that sealed her decision. Now, as a junior majoring in Recreation Therapy with a minor in Assistance Dog Training, Spencer could not be happier with her choice. “You can tell that the professors really care about their students. I just fell in love with this university,” she said.

Since high school, Spencer knew that she wanted to spend her life helping others. As a freshman, she began working with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as complex health conditions through her local parks and recreation department. She initially considered pursuing a career path in special education until she discovered that recreation therapy was a better fit, due to the program’s hands-on approach.

Despite not considering herself a “dog person,” Skyler found herself minoring in Dog Assistance Training. “I’m a cat person but I saw what dogs can do for people and I just fell in love with them,” she said. Spencer decided to declare the minor due to its direct connection to clients with disabilities. “I was blown away by how a dog can be utilized in just 10 minutes. I would watch a dog would walk into a room and if somebody was having a hard day, it was like a light switch,” she said. Now, Spencer hopes to one day operate a facility of her own that utilizes dogs to assist disabled clients in therapeutic settings.

Additionally, Skylar is the president of the UNCW chapter of the Best Buddies program. Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

CHHS Student Success Coordinator Naamah Noble says of Spencer, “In a world that often celebrates personal achievements, Skylar stands out not just for academic excellence, but for a heart deeply committed to community service—proving that true success is measured not by what we gain, but by what we give. I am looking forward to witnessing the impact she’ll make.”

Looking toward the future, Spencer is excited about the work to which she has dedicated her life. “You can change people's lives. People with disabilities are the most genuine and welcoming people on this planet, and getting to work with them every single day is a dream,” she said.