RPTM Kudos and Announcements April 15, 2008
Congratulations Alumni
Bob Hepburn ’49 (rhepburn2006@comcast.net) retired in 1988 after 30 years of working as a YMCA professional and executive director. He helped start the University of Toledo's four-year recreation major which still serves students. He was the director of the Wood County, Ohio 24/7 Crisis Intervention Center in Bowling Green, Ohio and currently volunteers as a career counselor at the University of Alabama. He and his wife of 59 years live in Tuscaloosa.
Rod Karstetter ’92 (RKarstetter@cybexintl.com) is National Accounts Manager, East, for Cybex International, Inc., a manufacturer of exercise equipment for commercial and consumer use.
John P. Hearn ’02 (John.P.Hearn@usace.army.mil) is a construction representative with the US Army Corps of Engineers at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, OH.
Congratulations Students
Senior Aslynn Satterfield, a member of the Penn State Women’s Gymnastics Team, earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for 2007-2008. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letter-winners and carry a career grade-point average of 3.0 or better.
The PGM students successfully completed their national assessment testing, PGA Checkpoint, on March 27-31, with 100% of seniors successfully completing PGA Checkpoint Level 3 – the first time this has occurred at any university.
Congratulations Faculty
Patty Kleban presented sessions on “Leadership Skills: Managing Conflict” at the Leadership Institute sponsored by The Second Mile in State College on March 31. The annual Institute brings teams of 10th grade student leaders from across Pennsylvania for training and project development.
Duarte Morais acted as judge at the Graduate Exhibition on March 30. Thirty graduate students from the College of Health and Human Development presented posters at the Exhibition.
In the News
Professor Emeritus Monty Christiansen was profiled in the 4th Quarter, 2007 issue of Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks for receiving the American Society for Testing and Materials International William F. Hulse Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to establishment of voluntary full-consensus standards to enhance safety of sport.
RPTM student Evak Tanner was mentioned in an April 3 Daily Collegian article about the Penn State Javelin Team. Evak placed second in the javelin throw at the 2007 Big Ten championships. Read the article here.
Chris Cain ’97 (christopher.cain@unlv.edu) and Brian Esposito ’97 (espo333@cox.net) were profiled in the April 2008 issue of PGA Magazine for their work with Par for The Cure, a Las Vegas based charity that has raised over $465,000 for breast cancer research.
Departmental Happenings
The Fourth Annual Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management Recognition Banquet was held at the Nittany Lion Inn on April 5. 125 students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members were present to honor outstanding students, alumni and collaborating community agencies who have contributed to the success of RPTM. Earlier in the day, students participated in a mentoring brunch and speed-networking event with distinguished RPTM alumni.
PGM hosted the Boy's Latin School of Maryland golf team on April 12, with alumni Mason Champion (PGM '98), Chad Vaughn (PGM '97), and Doug Schreck (PGM '05) serving as coaches. Thirteen students toured the Department and played golf at Penn State Golf Courses.
Notable Quotes
“This was my first visit to Penn State. I have been at a variety of other PGM Universities, as well as the PGA Education Center - what an impressive group of young men and women!” “The Penn State senior class is the most impressive group of students that I have worked with in the past 11 years. You should be commended for your efforts and the success of your students.” “There is something about the Penn State PGM students that set them apart from other students. They are always well prepared and proudly represent the University." -- PGA Faculty Members
I'd just like to thank you for all your help and care over the past years and let you know that I really appreciate all you did for me throughout my years at school and after. – Mike Garde ’08 (michaeljgarde@gmail.com)
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