Several Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management junior and senior undergraduate students have been recognized for having the highest GPAs among their cohort this academic year.
Interim Department Chair Jeffrey Hallo says that he’s proud of the hard work, commitment and dedication these students have brought to their studies.
“These students have worked hard all year, and I’m pleased to see them rewarded for their significant efforts in the classroom,” Hallo says. “Their perseverance and dedication will serve them well in their future careers, and they should be proud of this achievement. I’m certainly proud of them.”
The department’s 2020 Academic Achievement award recipients include:
Juniors
Shelby Bentley 
Shelby Bentley is a second-year Parks and Conservation Area Management student from Leesville, South Carolina. She is currently taking her EDGE semester and just returned from an absolutely amazing trip to Australia with nine other PRTM classmates. She is extremely passionate about animals and the outdoors and her dream career is any in which she is able to bring people closer to those two things. Shelby is very honored to have received the Academic Achievement Award at the Junior Level for PRTM.
Conner Haberman
Connor Haberman is from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He is the middle child of three with two dogs as well. He played soccer in college for two years at his previous school, but now just enjoys playing pick-up with friends. Connor also enjoys playing golf and spending time with friends and family. After graduating from Clemson, he plans to get his master’s in hopes of becoming a Recreation Therapist or Physical Therapist.
Meredith Powell
Meredith is a Sophomore Recreational Therapy Major from Greenville, South Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys climbing and running, and being anywhere outdoors with friends. She is passionate about PRTM because she is passionate about people, and she is excited about a future in Recreational Therapy.
Ryan Schuchmann
Ryan is from Knoxville, Tennessee and is a double major in PRTM (with a concentration in Professional Golf Management) and Business Management. Besides golfing, which he tries to do as much as he can, he also enjoys fishing and hunting and is involved in intramural flag football and basketball, as well as volunteering with Clemson Life. This summer he will be interning at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
Seniors
Aysia Cooper
Aysia is a senior PRTM major with an emphasis in Travel and Tourism from Greer, South Carolina. Aysia’s active spirit and mind has manifested itself into a love for running, traveling and hiking. This summer she will serve as the City of Greenville Special Events Intern, and upon completion will graduate in August. After graduation she hopes to pursue a career in community development.
Aurora Graichen
Aurora Graichen transferred to Clemson PRTM as a junior from the College of Charleston, where she studied Marine Biology. She is really enjoying her new major, and looks forward to finding a career along this new path. After graduation, she hopes to become a park ranger for the National Park Service.
Rachel Knauer
Rachel Knauer is a junior from Sumter, South Carolina. She found out about Recreational Therapy from a friend, fell in love with the mission and ended up transferring to Clemson University in order to get involved in the Department of PRTM. Because of her experience in EDGE, Rachel became an EDGE Mentor, which enriched her education through leadership training and professional development. Working alongside Julianne Keehan as a Lead EDGE Mentor this spring, Rachel has used her skills to further facilitate a culture of encouragement, support and confidence for students in PRTM. Moving forward, Rachel dreams of bringing the impact of Recreational Therapy to the geriatric population as an advocate and helper to any older adult within her reach. She is excited and passionate about the field of Recreational Therapy as a whole and cannot wait to pursue an internship and future career in geriatric RT.
Ryan Piller
Ryan Piller is from Greenville, South Carolina. She is a PRTM major with a concentration in Parks and Conservation Area Management and a minor in History. She’s currently a junior, but is a senior in academic standing. She is a founding member and current secretary for the club Young Women for America at Clemson, a club for women to discuss politics and religion freely. Ryan enjoys being outside, playing piano, guitar and ukulele, singing, dancing, writing, reading, being with friends and working with kids. She hopes to work at an historical site, monument or battlefield where she can combine her love for parks and history.
Hannah Snider
Hannah Snider is a senior at Clemson University getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a concentration in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management. She is the daughter of Brian and Rebecca Snider and the sister of Rachel Snider. She is also the fiancé of Dillon Gums. She currently works part-time at both the Clemson Ticket Office and the City of Easley Parks and Recreation Department. She loves animals, especially goats, all things Disney, being outside and going on adventures. She is a follower of Christ and says she owes all of her success to Him. She is currently still in search of a job for after graduation and is looking forward to whatever the future has in store!
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The parks, recreation and tourism management department at Clemson University is one of the largest and most well-recognized programs of its type in the nation. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in community recreation, sport and camp management, park and conservation area management, PGA golf management, public administration, recreational therapy, travel and tourism, and youth development leadership. To see the video announcing the award winners, visit: https://ensemble.clemson.edu/Watch/w8X4Aef9
