RPTM Kudos and Announcements 2-27-07
Congratulations Alumni
The following will serve on the PGM Alumni APG Board of Directors beginning May 1, 2007:
- President: Brad Alexander ’00 (balexander@pgahq.com)
- Vice President: Brian DeJohn ’97 (dejohns@mchsi.com)
- Secretary: Joe Hughes ’99 (jdh174@psu.edu)
- Non-Industry Representative: Mason Champion ’98 (mason.champion@smithbarney.com)
- Honorary President: Kevin Hamluk ’97 (khamluk@stonewallgolfclub.com)
Michael Gardner ’96 (mgardner@tuscawilla.com) general manager of the Tusscawilla Country Club in Winter Spring, FL hosted the Fourth Annual PGM Alumni & Friends Tournament and Banquet held at Tuscawilla Country Club on January 25. Seventy students and fifteen alumni participated in the event
Jason Diaz ’97 (jdiaz@pga.com) head professional at the South Bend Indiana Club PGA was highlighted in the February 2007 issue of PGA Magazine.
Brian Esposito ’97 (espo333@cox.net) received the PGM APG “Pride of Lions” award at the Fourth Annual PGM Alumni & Friends Tournament and Banquet on January 25 that goes to an outstanding PGM alumnus demonstrating professional excellence in the golf industry over the past 5 years.
Greg Weitzel ’97 (gaw@golara.org) accepted a position of director of parks, recreation and trails for the City of Allentown.
Christopher Cain ’98 (Christopher.cain@unlv.edu) was awarded The Bill Strausbaugh award for outstanding PGA mentorship at the January 4 PGA Chapter awards dinner in Las Vegas, NE.
Kelly Smith ’01 (klsmittie@hotmail.com) and Matthew McFarlane ’05 (mgmpsu@yahoo.com) were the 2006 recipients of the Acushnet PGA Apprentice Scholarship Award. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a plaque that will be awarded to them by their Titleist sales representative.
Sarah Faix ’05 (sarah.faix@gmail.com) accepted a position as MR support coordinator for Lenape Valley Foundation in Doylestown, PA.
Clifton Castleman ’05 (CCastleman@Boyscouts-NCAC.org) and Phil Gardner ’03 in addition to their careers as district executive for the Boy Scouts and manager of Studio A Records (respectively) started The Center for Wilderness Safety (Wilderness Safety.com).
Amy Baginski ’06 (amy.baginski@gmail.com) has accepted a position as recreation program specialist at an adolescent treatment center, in Lake Villa, IL. She will be working with at risk teens.
Congratulations Students
Patrick Gunning (pag177@psu.edu) and Megan Padua (mcp5002@psu.edu) attended the 10th PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit in Port St. Lucie, FL December 6 – 10.
Casie Goshow (cag5039@psu.edu) won the “Addidas Makes Tracks” contest. Contestants had to produce a video to show where their Addidas had or could take them. Casie along with boyfriend John Ebmyer (RPTM – PGM) and a friend produced a video to highlight Casie’s passion for dance. To view the video go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzzlz2pxis.
Sarah Gleeson (slg296@psu.edu) was accepted in the College 2007 student exchange program with the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena.
Congratulations Faculty
John Dattilo, Eric Handley, Stevie Lovell, and Burch Wilkes attended the PGA of America’s Annual Merchandise Show and Convention held in Orlando, FL January 25 – 28. Seventy students attended and met with PSU alumni, interviewed for future internships and full time positions, networked with industry leaders, and reviewed the newest technology in the golf industry.
John Dattilo attended the 2007 SPRE Department Chairs meeting in St. Augustine, FL January 28-31.
Careen Yarnal will present “Use It or Lose It: Play, Leisure, Fun and Your well-being” at the Home Economics Alumni Reunion and 100 Year Celebration on April 27 – 28 at the Nittany Lion Inn.
As an advisory board member of the Rutherford County Wellness Council, Mark Ivy presented the Murfreesboro, TN Housing Authority with Active Living by Design Awards for five neighborhoods. Mark developed the award and worked with the wellness council to create the program.
In the News
Burch Wilkes was quoted in an article featured in the February 2007 issue of PGA Magazine.
On Tuesday, February 6, The Centre Daily Times reported on the Career Fair held on February 5 at the HUB Robeson Center. The event was co-sponsored by the RPTM Student Society and Penn State Career Services. Several of our alumni attended the event representing their companies:
- Celia Segal ‘78 (choseal@comcast.net) – Chocolate Seal
- Paul Faircloth ’82 paul.Faircloth@stat.de.us) – Cape Henlopen State Park
- Pete Carmichael ’00 (pcarmich@sftp.com) – Six Flags
- Lucas McCarty ’04 (lmccarty@plymouthtownship.org) - Plymouth Parks & Recreation
- Kelly Zingone ’05 (kgingone@frostvalley.org) – Frost Valley YMCA
- Michelle Fisher ‘99 (mfisher@HersheyPA.com) – Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
Departmental Happenings
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center’s total endowment now exceeds $1 million with a gift of $50,000 from Mark McBride, retired senior research engineer in Penn State’s Applied Research Lab. The gift will help Shaver’s Creek provide more programs for youth. http://live.psu.edu/story/22151.
Clyde L. Shipman ’70 (Clyde.Shipman@state.de.us) section manager for operations and maintenance at Delaware State Parks visited November 30 – December 1 and met with students interested in park management, spoke in RPTM 320, met faculty, and toured Shavers Creek.
Alan Henry of the National Park Service visited campus on February 6. He talked to students about opportunities with NPS as well as presented in Andy Mowen’s RPTM 470 class.
Notable Quote
I wanted to take a minute and thank you for your time and efforts to let us speak with RPTM classes. Kathleen and Dr. Chow were both very welcoming, friendly, and easy going. This is exactly how I remember my RPM professors when I was there. Jeff and I both view our visit to PSU as a huge success. We were able to get more information out to students on our visit there than we had ever expected. - Kelly Zingone’05, Director of Camp Henry Hird, Frost Valley YMCA.
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