Category: Undergraduate students

When Nicole Entrup first started her undergraduate degree program at Clemson University, she didn’t think that studying abroad would be an option.

“I’m from 12 hours away in New Jersey, so was already paying out-of-state tuition,” Nicole said. “When you think of study abroad, you think of this big cost, and I just didn’t think that it would necessarily be financially attainable.”

A recreational therapy major in the Department Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Nicole had always been curious about what the field was like in other parts of the world. When she was planning her upcoming academic year, her advisor told her that a core degree requirement could be completed as a study abroad in Australia, and that the cost was similar to in-state tuition.

“The in-state tuition for EDGE in Australia made studying abroad a lot more feasible for me,” she said. “I think that also being away from home kind of opened my mind to it too, because if I could handle coming to Clemson, I could also handle going abroad to another country to see what recreational therapy and adaptive sports look like there.”

All students majoring in parks, recreation and tourism management (PRTM) are required to take a semester-long program called EDGE as part of their undergraduate degree. The focus of the semester is to prepare students for their chosen profession, while also helping them build skills and knowledge needed to succeed, such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and collaboration.

Throughout the PRTM EDGE semester, students take advantage of multiple opportunities to learn content through the use of innovative teaching methods, undergraduate research, real-world experiences and experiential learning. Students taking the EDGE Abroad program in Australia benefit from an international context to their classroom instruction, giving them the opportunity to build global connections while exploring a different part of the world.

Nicole appreciated the program format, which gave her a manageable balance between classroom learning and building her own industry connections in her free time.

“It was a really good balance of working hard Monday through Thursday, and then you have the weekend to travel, because we don’t have Friday class,” said Nicole. “Every Wednesday would be an educational field trip to somewhere like the Australia Zoo, but we’d be there to learn from them, so it was a really cool, interactive learning experience.”

One of the connections Nicole made during her spare time was with the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, which works to ensure that every Queenslander with a disability will have opportunities to live a more active and healthy life.

Nicole reached out to the group, attended one of their workshops and then arranged for her study abroad cohort to participate in a wheelchair basketball practice and learn more about the organization and the people it serves.

PRTM EDGE Abroad is led by PRTM faculty members Teresa Tucker and Charles Chancellor. Chancellor says that Nicole’s initiative created an exciting learning opportunity for both the students in her class and future EDGE Abroad students.

“She singlehandedly sought out the Sporting Wheelies and set up a field experience for the entire class to attend a workshop to learn about the organization that included a chance to meet and play wheelchair basketball with the athletes,” Chancellor said. “The evening was a huge hit and highlight for the entire class regardless of their emphasis area.”

Chancellor added that although EDGE Abroad students regularly make industry connections during the trip, it’s rare for a student to introduce a new industry connection for the program. The Sporting Wheelies event is now a regularly scheduled field experience on the EDGE Abroad itinerary.

Nicole is now working with recreational therapy faculty member Jasmine Townsend to involve the Sporting Wheelies in an international study of adaptive sport organizations. Nicole is also planning to pursue a master’s degree in recreational therapy after graduation, while looking for other ways to grow her Australian connections.

“I just found out that Brisbane, which is the city we stayed in, was just announced as the preferred host location for the 2032 Paralympic Summer Games,” Nicole said. “Hopefully by the time I’ve graduated and been in the field a bit, I can make my way back there with the Paralympics.”

While the on campus EDGE program is offered each fall, spring and summer, EDGE Abroad in Australia is only offered during spring semesters. Signups are underway for Spring 2022 and students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor for details.

Two programs in need have created a valuable partnership indeed. Pressures brought on by COVID-19 have led to an innovative partnership that is providing a lasting impact for both Clemson University Recreational Therapy program students and an Upstate organization that serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Last fall, the Rainbow Gang, a free community leisure and activity-based day program in Anderson County that provides recreation services to adults with intellectual and development disabilities, was in the process of planning to bring back in-person activity options after a fully virtual spring. They quickly realized, however, that they lacked the resources to effectively provide both virtual and in-person programming that could equally address their participants’ needs.

At the same time, three students in the recreational therapy program at Clemson University lost planned internship positions because of the pandemic. The program, which had previously worked with the Rainbow Gang on a study exploring the benefits of yoga for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, approached Program Director Kathy Schofield for help.

“We received a call from the recreational therapy program’s internship coordinator offering internship support, including bringing a Ph.D. student to our facility to supervise them,” Schofield said. “This is just what we needed to build small group programming that could serve both our in-person participants and those who needed to continue to stay home, so no one would be without activity options.”

The result was an internship program called Tiger Wellness, with two undergraduate student interns supporting programming offered both in-person and online, and a third intern working virtually from Texas. The students were able to provide recreational therapy interventions two to three times a day, with activities focused on enhancing the group’s social, mental and physical well-being.

The recreational therapy program worked closely with their accrediting agency, the Commission on the Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education and their certifying body, the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, to ensure that accreditation and certification guidelines were followed and met, including providing an internship supervisor.

Although the Rainbow Gang already had a certified recreational therapist working on-site, she didn’t yet have the one year of experience needed at her current job to supervise interns on her own. Faculty member Marieke Van Puymbroeck Chancellor took on that role, with Ph.D. student Kaitlin Mueller acting as her assistant and providing mentorship support to staff at the Rainbow Gang’s physical location.

Darby Hinson, the Rainbow Gang’s recreational therapist, said the mentorship provided by Clemson faculty and graduate students proved to be a unique and invaluable byproduct of the partnership.

“Having the advice of a person who’s supervised interns before helped prepare me for hosting my own,” Hinson said. “The Tiger Wellness program started right when I was eligible to start my own internship program, so it was helpful to have someone model what an internship program could look like.”

The program has three new interns this spring, two of which are from Clemson. They are also working to expand their virtual program to reach other medically vulnerable participants in the community who are not able to visit the center or who do not qualify for the day program.

Van Puymbroeck said that she is proud of how the team worked together to create a meaningful and innovative experience for the student interns.

“Together, we were able to turn the challenges we were facing into an incredible learning opportunity for our students,” said Van Puymbroeck. “I’m also so proud of our students who were able to be flexible and to try new and creative approaches to patient care, which is beyond what they’ve learned in the classroom.”

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The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is part of the University’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS). Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in seven disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.

By Nicolle Rebolledo, communications intern

Conner Sweeny is both a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) undergraduate student at Clemson University and a talented rising country music star. His most recent performance was in Clemson’s very own 2020 Tigerama where his band, The Conner Sweeny band, performed on a live stream for all of our Clemson fans to enjoy. He recently released his five-track EP album named Faith Family Friends in April 2019, and it includes a song called ‘Tiger Town.” Not only is he a part of Clemson’s Talented Hall of Fame, he has a passion for conservation and wildlife and is a bright student in our PRTM program.

Why did you choose PRTM for your studies at Clemson University?

I chose PRTM because I am truly passionate about the outdoors, wildlife and conservation. It was an easy decision and I haven’t ever regretted it. 

What’s your favorite experience as a PRTM student so far?

My favorite PRTM experience so far has been taking Intro to PCAM with Betty Baldwin. She opened up my eyes to so many different aspects or the outdoors and gave me opportunities to be hands on with conservation.

Are you originally from Clemson? How does the area shape your music?

I have lived in a lot of places, but my family now lives in Greenville, SC. Ever since I arrived in this town in 2017, It has been shaping my music and shaping me. I love Clemson and everything I have experienced here!

How can people buy your music?

My music can be bought on iTunes, streamed on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/1J7P9iKA9TGrDpBbtM9k03), streamed on Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/conner-sweeny/1422811725), and you can follow my page on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/connersweenymusic/?hl=en) to find out about music updates and shows! 

By Marissa Kuula, a current Community Recreation and Sport Management focused student within the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Department (PRTM)

Going into its fifth year under a grant from the United States Department of Veteran Affairs this past spring, the Clemson University Paralympic Soccer Program team headed by Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management faculty member Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning with assistance from Dr. Barry Garst was gearing up for another year of planning and implementing adaptive soccer camps for injured military veterans and professionals across the country. With plane tickets booked and a total of eight camps already under their belt, the team was prepared for a summer focused on delivering ten additional programs around the country in order to improve the quality of life, well-being and independence of military veterans.

Plans, however, were derailed when COVID-19 hit. With the virus rapidly spreading across the world, quarantine and social distancing guidelines went into effect to protect the population, halting all non-essential travel and upcoming gatherings, including the camps.

In the past, a series of camps were held in different American cities, hosting around fifteen veterans and professionals over the course of three days. Participants took part in both classroom and on-field learning and training sessions for two types of soccer – 7-a-side for athletes with Cerebral Palsy, a traumatic brain injury or stroke, and 5-a-side for athletes with visual impairment. They also earned a Mental Health First Aid and a US Soccer Grassroots Coaching certification over the course of the camp.

In addition to these learning and developmental opportunities, participants also had the opportunity to socialize with staff and other participants through group dinners and a planned group activity, such as adaptive foot golf, attending a professional or semi-professional sporting event, adaptive rowing, adaptive golf and adaptive CrossFit.

After the camps, veterans can use their training to become players in adaptive soccer programs, use achieved certifications to help transition back into their communities and pursue coaching opportunities in existing programs. Using skills and certifications gained at camp, participants can also begin to work with community partners to expand adaptive sport participation in their areas and become more active members of their communities overall. The Mental Health First Aid certification gives participants the skills and ability to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness.

While new restrictions meant that the traditional camps could not be held in person, Margaret Domka, a Clemson Ph.D. student who works with Dr. Arthur-Banning to manage the program, says that the veterans’ camps may have been even more important to deliver this year than ever.

“It has been challenging for many people to find ways to remain physically active and involved in the community this year, and it can be an even greater challenge for veterans with disabilities who may, in normal circumstances, need assistance in finding ways to reintegrate into the community,” said Domka. “Our virtual camps provide an opportunity for veterans to connect with others and become active.”

While COVID-19 has created unexpected challenges, the planning team’s creative thinking and strong work ethic allowed for the virtual style camps to develop and take place. For example, the Mental Health First Aid and US Soccer Grassroots certification portion of the camps took a page out of the book of Zoom classroom sessions Clemson University used to finish its virtual school year after spring break, with certification professionals working their way through instructional PowerPoints and videos. That said, the training sessions and feeling of camaraderie and connectedness that in-person camp offered in the past was harder to facilitate in a virtual setting. In order to combat this obstacle, the undergraduate team that works on these camps came up with ways to engage the participants both physically and socially.

Kirsten Windbiel, a graduate research assistant for the program, said that the team had to be well organized and prepared ahead of time to make the virtual camps work.

“Moving into an online format, our team really needed to be extra organized and creative when it came to executing the camp. Our team met frequently before camp to make sure all the pieces came together in an organized fashion, considering all of the online components, such as who was presenting when, which students were monitoring the Zoom chat boxes, making sure we were communicating effectively to the camp participants and overall, finding a successful way to make the correct adaptations for a variety of disabilities,” Kirsten said.

On the more physical side of things, camp attendees participated in chair yoga, seated weight training and adaptive soccer training sessions in which they could either practice drills in their living room or outside. Camp participants were shipped the equipment they needed to participate in these sessions in advance of the camp, including a regular soccer ball and a blind soccer ball (with rattles inside so players can hear the movement of the ball). A group Zoom dinner also helped create an environment conducive for social interactions. Team members took participants’ food orders and coordinated food delivery across three different time zones so that every person was able to eat at the same time while on the Zoom call.

According to Kirsten, the experience taught her that it’s important to stay connected and engaged with one’s community and peers, especially during uncertain times.

“Our community resources session at the end of camp allowed the veterans that participated to talk about resources within their communities and ideas for adaptive sports,” Kirsten said. “In general, the camp also really just allowed the group to come together during a difficult time, learn and have some fun doing something new.”

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Future virtual camps are currently being planned to continue to benefit the veteran population across the United States. Updates regarding the dates and registration of these camps will be posted on the Clemson Paralympic Soccer website. You can also check out Clemson University Paralympic Soccer (@cuparasoccer) on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates on the program and other adaptive sport happenings.

The Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management has recognized four students for outstanding service, leadership, professional engagement and personal qualities of integrity, compassion, service and a positive attitude.

Interim Department Chair Jeffrey Hallo says that the four awards are named after former leaders, faculty and alumni who exemplify qualities the department hopes to instill in its students.

“These four students demonstrate the best of those qualities and then some,” Hallo says. “Hannah, Danielle, Ellerslie and Gabrielle are all exceptional students who have made a lasting impact on this department and are credits to their communities.”

These students were recognized for:

Bert and Johnnie Brantley Outstanding Student Award – Hannah Snider

This award is presented to a PRTM senior who has exhibited outstanding service to the PRTM department, the University and the community during the student’s academic year at Clemson University while maintaining a 3.0 GPA. 

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.

Hannah 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!

Hannah was also recognized for Academic Achievement at the Senior Level.

Greg Shoper Leadership Award – Danielle Rudy

Established to honor a graduate of the department who was killed in action in Vietnam, this award recognizes the department’s most outstanding student leader of the year.  

Danielle Rudy is a junior Recreational Therapy major with a minor in Business Administration. She currently serves as the Vice President of Clemson’s Recreational Therapy club, fundraising and service chair for the Clemson Triathlon Club, and service chair for a living learning community located on campus, called WAVS. She also has been involved in a creative inquiry that coordinates and directs adaptive soccer camps for veterans across the United States. Outside of school, Danielle works as an ABA therapist at Agapi Behavioral Consultants and as a Fitness Assistant at FIKE Recreation Center.

Lawrence R. Allen Engaged Future Professional Award – Ellerslie McCue

This award is given to an undergraduate PRTM student who has demonstrated a commitment to professional engagement in the PRTM field.

Ellerslie McCue is a senior majoring in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a concentration in Travel and Tourism and an interest in Agriculture. She is very grateful to all of the professors and administrators in both PRTM and CAFLS for four amazing years and for encouraging her to be the best that she can be. She wishes to thank them (virtually) for going above and beyond for their students and making a huge impact in their lives that continues after they leave Clemson University.

Ellerslie also runs a successful business called Highway Sailor, which she’s grown while earning her degree. Read her story.

Stevenson-Smith-Lovett Award – Gabrielle Wimberly

Established in memory of the families of donors to the PRTM department, this award is presented to a rising senior who exemplifies personal qualities of integrity, love, compassion, service and a positive attitude. 

Gabrielle Wimberly is a junior Recreational Therapy major from Simpsonville, South Carolina. At Clemson, Gabrielle currently serves as the founding Event Coordinator for Clemson CHAARG, a women’s health and fitness organization. She is also a member of the Recreational Therapy Club, the Clemson Dancers and the Pre-Physical Therapy Club on campus. With a love for health and wellness as well as children, Gabrielle hopes to work in pediatrics as a Child Life Specialist or a Pediatric Physical Therapist. She enjoys the opportunities her major provides to strengthen others and improve their quality of life.

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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.

Three Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) students have been recognized for completing rigorous, research-based coursework requirements through the university’s Calhoun Honors College as they completed their undergraduate degrees.

Interim Department Chair Jeffrey Hallo says that recipients Ryan King, Bailee Matthews and Emma Leroux are all outstanding students that have worked hard to make the most of their learning experience.

“Departmental Honors give our undergraduate students the opportunity to do advanced, in-depth study and research within their chosen area of study,” Hallo says. “It is a rigorous program, but Ryan, Emma and Bailee more than rose to the challenge. I’m extremely proud of their accomplishments.”

Ryan King, from Greenville, South Carolina, is expecting to graduate in August 2020. He plans to work in public parks and recreation, with a focus in outdoor recreation. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with his chocolate Lab, Colt, and mountain biking. He’s taken a 14-day road trip out west and visited a variety of national parks including Arches, Death Valley and Yosemite. He’s hoping to spend a few years on the job to get an understanding of the field and explore what he might want to study in graduate school. Ryan was also recognized in two other ways: for Academic Excellence and with the Award for Excellence in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management.

Emma Leroux, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, is graduating this spring with a concentration in Recreational Therapy. She is attending Vanderbilt University in the fall to study for her master’s in Special Education. She is very thankful for the support from the PRTM faculty and her family and friends that helped her succeed while at Clemson.

Bailee Matthews, from Lake City, South Carolina, graduated this spring with a concentration in Recreational Therapy. She is a member of Clemson University’s Student Government and the

Recreational Therapy Club. She has been a member of the Calhoun Honors Program since her sophomore year and has been a part of a research team to determine the users, user perceptions, benefits, personal experiences, and outcomes of a cancer survivor park in Greenville, South Carolina.

Throughout her years as a student at Clemson, Bailee has had multiple opportunities to gain hands-on experiences working with different populations, from stroke and traumatic brain Injury to dementia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is currently working at the National Health Care of Greenville skilled nursing facility where she is interning with the Recreational Therapy department for her senior internship. After graduation, Bailee plans to attend graduate school in the Fall to pursue Speech Language Pathology.

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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.

Several Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management undergraduate  students have been recognized with department awards for academic and other achievements in their chosen concentration.

Interim Department Chair Jeffrey Hallo says that he’s impressed with the caliber of this year’s student award winners.

“To be considered for an award, students need to demonstrate academic achievement, leadership and engagement in both the department and the field,” Hallo says. “These students demonstrated that and more. I’m proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing where their careers take them in the future.”

The department’s 2020 award recipients by area of study include:

Award for Excellence in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management – Ryan King

This award is presented to an outstanding senior in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management on the basis of academic achievement, leadership and professional involvement in a CRSCM related field.

Ryan King is a Senior Undergraduate student from Greenville, South Carolina who is expecting to graduate in August of 2020. After graduation, he plans to work in public parks and recreation with a focus in outdoor recreation. He wants to work a few years to get an understanding of the field and see what he may want to study in graduate school. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with his chocolate Lab (Colt) and mountain biking. One interesting thing about Ryan is that he took a 14-day road trip out west and visited a variety of national parks, including Arches, Death Valley and Yosemite.

Ryan also received a certificate of recognition for academic excellence and was recognized as an Honors Graduate.

Award for Excellence in PGA Golf Management – Wright Garrett

This award is presented to an outstanding senior in PGA Golf Management on the basis of academic achievement, leadership and professional involvement in golf management.

Wright Garrett is a Junior from Fountain Inn, South Carolina. He is honored to receive the Award for Excellence in Professional Golf Management because he is very passionate about the sport of golf and what it has taught him and what it has done for so many others. As an aspiring PGA professional, Wright hopes to continue to inspire others through the game that has helped shape him into the person he is today.

Award for Excellence in Recreational Therapy – Rachel Knauer

This award is presented to a student who displays high academic standards while achieving excellence in Recreational Therapy through service to special populations and achievement in professional activities.

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.

Rachel was also recognized for academic achievement at the senior level.

Award for Excellence in Travel and Tourism – Aysia Cooper

This award recognizes an outstanding student in Travel and Tourism based on academic achievement and demonstrated interest and dedication to the Travel and Tourism field.

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.

Aysia was also recognized for Academic Achievement at the Senior Level.

Park and Conservation Area Management Founders and Leaders’ Award – Ryan Piller and Bryson Smith

This award is presented to a junior or senior in Park and Conservation Area Management who exemplifies the values, work, leadership and spirit of the founders and leaders of our public lands.

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 place 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.

Ryan was also recognized for Academic Achievement at the Senior Level.

Bryson Smith grew up playing on his grandfather’s land in Pauline, South Carolina. There he found his passion for the outdoors, spending every free moment out in the woods or on the pond. A love of nature led him to Clemson University and a major in PRTM with a concentration in Parks and Conservation Area Management. He plans on making a career out of preserving the outdoors so that others can enjoy it like he has.

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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.

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

By Nicolle Rebolledo, communications intern for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) at Clemson University, through the federal work study program.

This year, I was looking for a means to make money to cover my personal expenses as a student, as well as a job with flexible hours. Coming out of high school I had worked a few odd jobs here and there and even worked in a department store for over a year. Although I had some experience working, I was after some experience working alongside professionals that I could learn from.

Every year the U.S department of education awards more than 150 billion dollars in grants, loans and work study funds to college students that show financial need based on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). What sets a work study job apart from federal grants and loans is that it’s earned through part time employment with a school. As an architecture major, I was conflicted with the idea of sustaining a job as well as being able to excel in a time consuming major, however, a plus to this form of aid is that you’ll never have to pay it back and the earnings you make are dependent on how many hours you choose to work.

The trick to getting a work study position is to apply as soon as possible, the earliest being October. The sooner the better because generally aid is given on a first come, first served basis. In this case, the early bird always gets the worm.

The experience I had under my sleeve along with some software skills I had developed on my own made me a worthy candidate for a work-study job. Being a work study has greatly benefited me in many more ways than just financially and I’d like to share my experience as one.

About a month away from joining the Clemson family; I began applying to as many work study jobs available in just about every department. From the art departments teaching assistant to working at the botanical gardens, I found an endless amount of possibilities and applied to each one with excitement. Shortly after a couple days of nail-biting anticipation, I got a call from a sweet lady I’d later get to call my boss, Karin Emmons, former media resource specialist (retired). She noticed my resume included that I had ample experience with programs like Photoshop and InDesign, among other programs, and this made me a glowing candidate for becoming a communications intern in the PRTM department. I was hired!

I was easily able to design a work schedule that didn’t interfere with my classes and gave me sufficient time to study and work in the studio. Working in PRTM, I’ve been introduced to a different world within Clemson.  I’ve met incredible people that have shown me the ins and outs of this department. From office tailgates to interviewing folks that work in the department, you’ll be sure to become a part of the PRTM quickly.

During my time working, I’ve had extremely beneficial experiences that have helped me outside of the office. I remember during my first semester, I was tasked with editing a video for the department’s EDGE program, yet I had never laid a finger on video editing software. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to receive one-on-one tutorials with Jan Lay, Clemson’s faculty training coordinator and instructor for Adobe Software. Not only did I gain knowledge and experience with video editing programs like Premiere Pro, but I also received tutorials to strengthen my Illustrator and Photoshop skills, among other programs.

“Work experience at any level while you’re in college is going to be a benefit,” says Megan FitzGibbon, manager of state scholarship programs at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. “Especially if it’s related to your degree.”

Being able to add work-related experience is substantially beneficial to your personal resume and I’m currently using it on mine to apply for summer internships related to my career.

To anyone considering applying for a work study job, my two cents of advice would be to work on your time management skills. I can’t stress this enough! Being able to manage your time between working and studying is crucial to sustaining both. At first you may find it tedious learning what to prioritize but quickly it will become second nature.

Having a working study job isn’t meant to feel like a juggling act. Instead, they’re rewarding opportunities aimed for students​ looking to earn extra money while building a resume. It has been a rewarding experience that has​ allowed me to polish my professional skills, earn pocket money, and most importantly gain meaningful experiences as a Clemson Tiger!

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If you’re interested in applying to work study jobs, go to the Michelin Career Center. There you can you search positions with Clemson (on or off campus) that are tailored to your preferences and goals. Not only do they connect students and employers, but they also offer career counseling, resume reviews, information workshops, and other valuable job searching advice.