RPTM Kudos and Announcements 4-28-05
Congratulations Alums
Kristen Fedesco (’00), kfedesco@hotmail.com, received the RPTM 2005 Emerging Professional award. Kristen earned a master’s degree in park and recreation administration from the University of New Mexico. Since 2002, she has been employed as a member of an educational team providing inclusion programming and treatment for children with physical, social and emotional disabilities in the public school settings in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Richard Sprenkle (’72g) rsprenkle@state.pa.us, received the RPTM 2005 Alumni Recognition award. Dick has been actively involved in the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) since 1961 when he began as a student member. He became president of PRPS in 1977 and transitioned into professional positions such as director of parks and recreation in Chester County, vice president of preserve stewardship and government relations at the Natural Lands Trust and deputy director of the Pennsylvania Division of Conservation and Natural Resources. He recently retired as deputy secretary for Conservation and Engineering Services.
Congratulations Students
David Walters (outdoor), Jillian Poznick (therapeutic recreation), Allyson Motts (commercial), Matthew Hess (PGM) and Birgitta Baker (graduate student) received RPTM 2005 outstanding student awards.
Congratulations Faculty
The Encyclopedia of Leisure and Recreation in America, co-edited by Garry Chick, has been named one of the “Best Reference Sources of 2004” by Library Journals.
RPTM students presented the RPTM 2005 Outstanding Faculty Award to Patty Kleban.
RPTM students presented Frank Guadagnolo with a plaque in gratitude for his numerous years of contributions to RPTM teaching, advising, and the administration.
Fred Coombs, our first and longest-serving department head, received the first and only RPTM Lifetime Achievement Award.
Instructional Support
Matt West (’01), westypsu@hotmail.com, is a tourist information counselor for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at the Route 15 Welcome Center near Wellsboro. He visited the RPTM 277 class (Recreation for Persons with Disabilities) on April 7 and spoke about his personal experiences living with traumatic brain injury.
Fernando Torres-Gil, torres@spa.ucla.edu, Ph.D., from University of California, Los Angeles, presented “Shifting Paradigms in Aging: Politics, Diversity and Public Policy” on April 11. The event was co-sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development Diversity Enhancement Committee.
Departmental Happenings
The Inaugural RPTM Recognition Banquet held Saturday, April 9, 2005 was attended by approximately 140 alumni, students, faculty, staff and guests. Several awards were presented throughout the evening and certificates of appreciation were given to the 2004-2005 scholarship recipients. Faculty recognized the RPTM Student Society, including outgoing and incoming officers, graduating seniors, graduate students and university scholars. Students who participated in the mentor program and the Women’s Leadership Initiative were also recognized.
In the News
Birgitta Baker, a volunteer at the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, was featured in the article “Dinner recognizes volunteers” in the April 2 edition of the Centre Daily Times.
Gillian Frisch, who is studying abroad in Rome this semester, authored “Dispatch from Rome: Student Experiences Change, Chaos since Pope’s Death” in the April 7 edition of Penn State Live. Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/11383.
Notable Quotes
“You are in the right place at the right time.” - Fernando Torres Gil, Ph.D., speaking to a group of approximately 30 RPTM students and faculty about implications of the field of RPTM for older adults.
*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