RPTM Kudos and Announcements December 10, 2007
Congratulations Alumni
Alumni Linda Bollinger ’82, Joanne Finegan ’83 (jfinegan@remed.com), Jessica Rickard ’94 (jrickard@mageerehab.org), and faculty members Tammy Buckley, Ralph Smith and Patty Kleban conducted a prototype training course on “Inclusive Recreation for Wounded Warriors” to the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Department of Veterans Affairs and Office of Secretary of Defense. The course is intended for Recreation Managers working with Wounded Warriors at military installations in the U.S. and abroad. Kris D’Alessandro ’86 (kris.dalessandro@cfsc.army.mil), representing the Family, Morale, and Welfare Command (FMWRC) of the U.S. Army, was a participant in the course.
Chris Saello ’88 (csaello@ymcabwv.org) is Vice President of Financial Development and Acting Executive Director for YMCA of the Brandywine Valley.
Mike Gardner ’96 (mgardner@riverruncc.com) is the Chief Operating Officer of River Run Country Club in Davidson, NC.
Stacey Brewer ’00 (sebpsu4@aol.com), former Lady Lions Basketball team member, is the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director of Cowan Junior/Senior High School in Muncie, IN.
Elizabeth Helm '01 of DCNR-Bureau of State Parks and Rebecca Slick '98 of Manheim Township Parks and Recreation are recipients of The Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society's "Excellence in Programming" Awards. Entries are judged in the following areas: innovation, efficient use of resources, community involvement, range of appeal and potential for continuity.
Bobbi Jo Witmer ’07 (bjwitmer@gmail.com) has taken a position with Goodwill Industries as a job coach for adults with disabilities.
Maggie Neil ’07 (mneil@myrtlebeachpelicans.com) is Director of Promotions for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball club.
Congratulations Students
The PGM Student Society secured almost $5,000 from the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) to help 65 students attend the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show and Convention in Orlando, Florida on January 15-20.
Congratulations Faculty
Garry Chick was invited by the College of Health and Human Development Honor Society to attend the annual induction of new members on November 11.
Patty Kleban was invited by the Penn State College of Health & Human Development Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) training program on October 21 to present on the subject "Women and Politics." This year's WLI participants from RPTM are Amanda Tylka, Cara Bell and Robin Bang.
Retired Professor Monty Christiansen was bestowed with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International William F. Hulse Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to establishment of voluntary full-consensus standards to enhance safety of sport.
Congratulations Staff
Jennifer Howard (RPM ’98) joined RPTM as Administrative Specialist on November 26. Jennifer has worked for Marriott, Starwood, and Embassy Suites in Virginia as well as at Penn State’s Department of English.
In the News
G. T. Thompson '81 (Gthompson@SHScares.org) is Rehabilitation Services Manager at Susquehanna Health Systems in Williamsport, PA. His son, Logan, is a U.S. soldier who was wounded on November 7th when an explosion occurred just south of Baghdad; he is expected to make a full recovery! Surgery was successful, and he hopes to return to his unit after recovery and rehabilitation at a hospital in Germany. We appreciate Logan's actions and our thoughts are with the Thompson family. Read more at The Centre Daily Times website.
Departmental Happenings
Dan Benzenberg '06 and Tom Howard '00, PGA Teaching Professionals with GolfTEC, spoke in PGM Courses Introduction to Teaching and Merchandising and Inventory Management and recruited students for full-time and internship positions on November 13.
Erica Bove Robinson ’04 spoke to RPTM 476 students about her work experiences at The Meadows Psychiatric Center in Centre Hall, PA.
Special guest Joe Luciano, CEO of Motion Golf, joined the following PGM alumni at the PGM Student Society’s 6th Annual PGM Alumni Panel Discussion on December 5:
Daniel Benzenberg ('06) GolfTec, Long Island, NY
Jon Schoenfeld ('05) Ford's Colony Country Club, Williamsburg, VA
Jason Marciniec ('04) Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, PA
Nolan Sutker ('02) Motion Golf, White Plains, NY
Adam Boland ('01) Zero Restriction Outerwear, Pittsburgh, PA
Jon Boland ('99) Fairway & Greene, Pittsburgh, PA
Joseph Hughes ('99) Penn State Golf Courses
Mark Lammi ('99) Reynold's Plantation, Greensboro, GA
Kevin Wiest ('99) Kings Creek Country Club, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Hans Larson ('97) Westmoreland Country Club, Wilmette, IL
Jason Waters PGM '00 (jwaters@hopmeadowcc.net), PGA Head Golf Professional at Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury, CT, spoke to the PGM Student Society on November 7 about career advancement in the private club industry.
RPTM students and alumni who use the social networking site FACEBOOK can join the “Rec Park Students / Alumni Group" to keep up to date and socialize with each other.
If you have accomplished something you would like to share with the RPTM crew, please notify me. Also, if you are aware of accomplishments or quotes by our alumni, students, or staff, please let me know so I can share the news. Thank you! – John Dattilo, Professor and Department Head jxd8@psu.edu