RPTM Kudos and Announcements 12-8-06
Congratulations Alums
Joe Gonzalez ’03 (gonzalmj@cvn71.navy.mil) accepted a position with Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, out of Norfolk, VA.
Michele Bailey ’04 (Michele.Bailey@thebreakers.com) is currently the Activities Events Supervisor at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL.
Congratulations Faculty
Christine Buzinde, Linda Caldwell, John Dattilo, Eric Handley, Deb Kerstetter, Patty Kleban, Stevie Lovell, Duarte Morais and Burch Wilkes attended the student society pizza social to mingle with RPTM and PGM student society members on October 30.
Linda Caldwell presented on “Transitions to Sexual Intercourse and Substance Use among South African High School Students”, at the American Public Health Association conference in Boston, MA, November 8.
Geoffrey Godbey
- gave the keynote address “Prospects for the Future of Parks and Leisure” in Sydney, Australia in September,
- was co-author of two articles “Leisure in the 2lst Century: Part One”, published in Futures Research Quarterly for spring and “Leisure in the 21st Century: Part Two” for summer,
- authored a paper titled “The Time Divide: Work, Family and Gender Inequality” published in Social Forces in June, and
- was interviewed by “WNYC Public Radio” for The Leonard Lopate Show in July. The topic was “What Makes a Good Vacation?”.
Patty Kleban presented at the NJ/Eastern PA Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Association Fall Conference on November 7 in Princeton, NJ “Who’s the Boss? Effective Management in TR”.
Careen Yarnal’s article “The Red Hat Society®: Exploring the Role of Play, Liminality and Communitas in Older Women’s Lives”, appeared in The Journal of Women and Aging.
Careen Yarnal, Garry Chick and John Dattilo’s article “More False Dichotomies: Play, Leisure, Environment Enrichment and Important Science Questions” appeared in Leisure Sciences.
Instructional Support
The PGM program hosted a Club Design and Repair Seminar on October 28-29, addressing golf club design and repair procedures that help students understand and practice how equipment influences the game. Jim Yachinich, Director of Schools for The Golfworks, assisted in the seminar.
The PGM Student Society met on October 18, with 140 students in attendance to listen to Bill Cioffoletti, Director of Recruitment and Community Outreach for the PGA of America.
In the News
Brad Alexander, ’00 (balexander@pgahg.com) PGA professional and tournament manager in the PGA’s Tournaments Department was quoted in the September issue of The PGA Magazine, in, September in an article entitled “Runyan Scholarship Recipients Named: Producing PGA Professionals”.
“The Challenge at the Creek”, inspired by the television show “The Amazing Race,” was held on November 4 at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center by RPTM students and was featured in The Centre Daily Times on Sunday, November 5.
The following people were profiled in the Pennsylvania Recreation & Parks Magazine for the third quarter:
- Sharon Pruszko (slp246@psu.edu) received the Robert W. Crawford Scholarship Award given to a student in recreation and parks curriculum at a college or university in Pennsylvania.
- Larissa Witmer (lkw138@psu.edu) received the 2006 PRPS Student Honor Award whose nomination by faculty indicates the student’s fine moral character, leadership, maturity, dedication, campus involvement, and interest in professional development.
- Carl Mancuso ’70 received the 2006 PRPS Fred M. Coombs Honor Award.
- James Watenpool ’72 (jpwassoc@aol.com) District 1 President, was recognized for his leadership which included the development of the Ambassador Program in District 1.
- Dick Sprenkle ’79 (rcsprenkle@aol.com) was photographed along with several other PRPS past presidents.
- Greg Weitzel ’97 (gaw@golara.org) was recognized for forming a public-private partnership to build and showcase the first multi-generational destination park in the U.S. in Lewisburg, PA.
- Derek Dureka ’05 (derekdureka@yahoo.com), program leader of Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation, was recognized for matching talents of current and former staff with recreation-use spaces in township facilities developing nine “themed” birthday parties for children.
- Brianne Morris ’05 was pictured along with James Watenpool, director of Blueberry Hill Park Activity Center.
- Donald Joyce, retired RPTM faculty and Finance/Auditing Committee Chair, was recognized for his continuing involvement and expertise related to the Society’s finances.
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