Marilyn Claassen, activities director at Thorne Crest Community in Albert Lea, was awarded the Activity Professional Award of Excellence by the Minnesota Statewide Activity Professionals, MN SWAP, at a convention on Oct. 11.

Marketing Director Karen Anderson and Administrator Shanna Eckberg, along with staff and residents, submitted Claassen’s nomination.

Thorne Crest Retirement Community is located in Albert Lea. Its professional caregivers are dedicated to providing high quality health care in a caring compassionate environment.

“Marilyn has been employed as activity director for more than 30 years,” Eckberg said. “She was involved in helping to start the local activity professional group in Albert Lea.”

In addition, Claassen heads the safety committee and helped start Thorne Crest’s wellness program. She trains others in CPR, safety and wellness. Eckberg said Claassen is a person who always puts others before herself with a genuine smile.

“Marilyn works every day to bring sunshine and normalcy to the lives of those who she calls friends, the residents of the Thorne Crest Community,” Anderson said.

MN SWAP is an organization that exists to provide a source of mutual support and sharing of ideas for all persons in the field of activity programming. It also promotes and offers educational opportunities that specifically address the activity professional and the needs of the people they serve. MN SWAP works with other professional groups, regulatory agencies and provider representatives to insure the delivery of activity services in a coordinated, client oriented atmosphere.