Each year AAPAR honors individuals for outstanding or innovative contributions to the field of aquatics at national, regional or state levels through research, safety, education and programming.

AAPAR seeks to increase public awareness, understanding and support for lifelong physical activity and recreation programs and to serve the profession by disseminating guidelines and standards of practice and offering continuing education in different specialized areas of practice.

Yarger joined Ball State in 2002 to head the aquatics program and serve as a physical education instructor. He earned a master's degree in 1998 and a bachelor's degree in 1995 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Before coming to Ball State, he worked in operation and management of aquatic facilities ranging from indoor and outdoor pools to water park attractions, non-surf waterfronts and ocean rescue beachfronts.