Tag: PRTM Proud

“When you are a student in the PRTM Master’s program, you have me for life.”

Over the past 40 years, Tom O’Rourke has spent every day of his working career in the management or administration of parks, recreation and tourism in the Charleston, South Carolina region. Between directing two large park systems and his service as a Board Member of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, he’s seen and managed it all.

Tom applies that on-the-ground knowledge and expertise to two classes in the Clemson University Master of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management (PRTM) program: Innovative and Creative Funding Strategies in PRTM (PRTM 8210) and Enterprise Development in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors (PRTM 8240). He also provides strategic planning support to the department.

Tom recently answered a few questions for us about the program, his experiences in the community recreation field and the future of the profession.

Tell us a bit about what you see as your most significant contribution to the online MS program.

As Executive Director of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission I oversaw the agency through its most significant growth. What separated CCPRC’s growth from most others is that we accomplished this with very little reliance on tax subsidies. As our profession advances into the future, it is clear that we will need to create entrepreneurial opportunities and business management principles that will ensure its sustainability. My contribution to the master’s degree program is to work with the students and other faculty members to institute programs and services that can financially sustain themselves into the future.

What knowledge and skills do you feel are most important for our MS students to have in order to advance in the field?

The skills necessary to advance the field of parks, recreation and tourism into the future will be grounded in creativity. A department’s end goal of making communities and the people in them better doesn’t change. What will be completely different is how we do it. Graduates should leave our program understanding how to fund their parks and programs without relying on the government to fund their operations.

The future leaders in parks and recreation will be managing more than doing. Our students learn the contractual skills necessary to protect their community, while controlling the activities that take place in their department.

Our program also focuses on innovation. Government is changing, parks and recreation is changing, and so are people and society. Our students will learn through innovation the skills necessary to lead our profession into the future.

What do you enjoy most about teaching in the MS online program? 

What I enjoy most is my relationship with the students. Most of our MS students are currently working in the field. The personal relationship I have with the students extends far beyond the learning outcomes of each class.

I want to be the type of professor that is always there for the students not only in class, but beyond the class and even after they graduate. Education does not stop after the student leaves Clemson. When they contact me, I don’t want to give answers, I want to ask questions so that the student can reach the answers themselves. When you are a student in the PRTM Master’s program, you have me for life.

What advice do you have for potential students who will be taking this program while working full-time?

I actually think it is better to enroll in the program while working full-time. The advantage is that you have faculty resources for the problems that you are undertaking at your immediate disposal.

Our current method of teaching is designed to consist of discussion topics and group work. This forces students to get to know each other. The other students provide a professional network that will last well beyond graduation. When we discuss current issues, students that are currently working full-time always offer the best and most current examples.

How is this program a good value for students? Or who do you think would benefit most from this credential in your field of expertise?

The knowledge gained in the MS program will benefit a student even if they choose to switch fields. Gaining knowledge in strategic planning, funding and working in political environments is essential, whatever you are doing. Most advanced senior management positions currently require a master’s degree. Having one with an emphasis in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship separates our program from any other.

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About the Master of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Clemson University is among the nation’s top universities in graduate education in the fields of parks, recreation, tourism and related disciplines. Research shows that the average annual salary of a person holding a M.S. in the PRTM field is $16,000 more annually or $480,000 more over a 30-year career. The top 25% of people in the field with a M.S. make $88,000 or more annually.

Students learn from a mix of leading university faculty and world-class practitioners and take 10 classes over two years (one class at a time), meeting online in the evening once a week with faculty and fellow graduate students – making sure you can continue to work full-time while earning your Master’s degree.

Visit Clemson Online to learn more about the MS Online (non-thesis) program in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, including how to apply for either a spring or fall program start.

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.

The Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management department recently recognized two of its former students for their impressive contributions to the parks and recreational field throughout their careers to date. A Clemson University staff member was also recognized for her contributions to the department.

Kyle M. Woosnam, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management within the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, was recognized for his achievements in academia. Melinda Chappell, Director of the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, was recognized as an outstanding practitioner. Casey Kornegay won the department’s Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes a member of the Clemson community who has made outstanding contributions to the PRTM Department.

Interim Department Chair Jeffrey Hallo says that all three winners have focused their careers on building opportunities for other people.

“Kyle’s research track record is extensive and impressive, but he is also widely regarded as an excellent personal and professional mentor to his students,” Hallo said. “Melinda has also focused her career on serving others, with a particular focus on creating sports and recreation opportunities for persons with disabilities. Casey’s work has made a significant impact on our department and our students.”

About Kyle Woosnam

Woosnam completed his Ph.D. in 2008 and focuses his research on sustainable tourism planning and management within rural communities, both with the U.S. and abroad. He has conducted research in 27 countries, secured more than $1.25 million in grants and contracts to support his research, published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and delivered more than 130 conference presentations throughout the globe. He has also received eight teaching awards and two research awards throughout his 11 years serving as a professor, and has graduated 28 Masters students (17 chaired committees) and 16 Ph.D. students (four chaired committees).

He serves as Senior Research Fellow within the University of Surrey’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the University of Johannesburg’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, where he teaches courses in community tourism, cultural heritage tourism, social impacts of tourism, research methods, and protected areas management. He sits on seven editorial boards, including the Journal of Travel Research, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, and Sustainability.

About Melinda Chappell

Chappell holds a BS degree in Recreation Administration with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Clemson University, and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Carolina. A certified recreation therapist, Melinda has spent most of her career serving persons with disabilities. She co-founded Limitless Sports, Columbia S.C. and Coastal Adaptive Sports, and is a long-time member of the Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Sports Association, as well as the meet director for their annual event, the Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Games (SEWSA). She helped bring these games to Clemson University.

Originally from Irmo, South Carolina, Chappell moved to North Myrtle Beach in 2001 to work for the city, and is currently the Director of the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, a 64,000 square foot, membership-based facility that she helped build. She also teaches a course about recreation for persons with disabilities as an Adjunct Professor at Coastal Carolina University.

About Casey Kornegay

As the Senior Academic Compliance Manager in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Casey Kornegay leads and maintains Clemson’s authorization for out-of-state educational activities and learning placements, compliance with university policy and processes, and with federal, state, NC-SARA, and SACSCOC accreditation requirements. In this role, Casey enjoys working with a variety of academic programs across campus to ensure they are meeting compliance requirements and assist them with processes to enhance their efficiencies.

Casey holds an M.S.in Instructional Design and Technology from Western Illinois University. Before her career in higher education, she worked for corporations in a variety of roles from project management, event planning, training management, acquisition team lead, instructional designer, technical writer and marketing management.

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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.

Eight Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management graduate students have been recognized with department awards for academic, teaching, service and other achievements.

Interim Department Chair Jeffrey Hallo says that all of this year’s award recipients are equally impressive in their own right.

“These students continually demonstrate the best of our graduate program at Clemson, focusing on service, scholarly achievement, professionalism and a demonstrated passion for what they do,” Hallo says. “Every single one of this year’s award winners has the potential to make a great contribution to our field.”

The department’s 2020 award recipients include:

Graduate Student Awards of Excellence

This award recognizes graduate students who are distinguished through academic achievement, scholarship, community service and perseverance.

Cait Henry

Cait Henry is a master’s student in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and originates from Saint Louis, Missouri. She works as a Project Coordinator and Master’s Research Assistant in the Parks Solutions Lab, where she has had the opportunity to network with other highly motivated and passionate social scientists. She was accepted into the Ph.D. program at Kansas State University under Dr. Jessica Fefer in the department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, and will move back to the Midwest after graduating this May. Her hobbies include: hiking and backpacking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, reading at coffee shops, discovering new craft breweries and slowly turning her cats into Adventure Cats.

Kaitlin Mueller

Kaitlin Mueller is a proud Clevelander with a passion to live in a world where one day all people have access to recreation therapy services. She completed her undergrad in RT at Slippery Rock University and finished her master’s studies at Indiana University in RT. After graduating from Slippery Rock University, Kaitlin worked as a recreational therapist in geriatric, sub-acute rehabilitation in Cleveland for five years. Kaitlin is now a 2nd year Ph.D. student in RT with hopes of becoming a future academic. Kaitlin’s research interest is currently transitional care for older adults when moving into a new senior facility. Kaitlin enjoys all the quality time she can get with her husband and almost one-year-old son, preferably at Clemson baseball or softball games. Go Tigers!

John Nettles

John is currently in the final semester of his master’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University where he works as a research assistant for Dr. Matt Brownlee in the Park Solutions Lab. Through his assistantship, he has helped to write four extensive visitor management reports for national parks across the country, conducted visitor surveys in three additional parks, and drafted five research articles for submission to peer reviewed journals this spring. His thesis focuses on integrating emotional affect into bear management and bear safety education. Prior to coming to Clemson, John received his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology and Statistics from the University of Montana. Between programs, John worked as a veterinary technician in Texas, interpreter at a grizzly bear sanctuary in Montana, and a panda behavior intern in China. John and his fiancée, Emma, will get married in May and he hopes to continue on towards a doctoral degree in wildlife biology and work in grizzly bear research and management.

John was also recognized with the Outstanding Masters Student Research Award from the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences.

Suk Oh

Suk is a fourth-year graduate (Ph.D.) student in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a research focus on the development of disability sport through corporate social responsibility. He has put forth significant effort to find ways for firms, as well as sport organizations, to make a social impact and address community priorities, especially for the communities of persons with a disability.

Suk has worked closely with Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning (advisor) on several projects. Among his many accomplishments, Suk has assisted in implementing a multi-institutional, short-term study abroad program with 13 students from nine different institutions to the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games. Furthermore, he has been involved in a community service grant project (Clemson Paralympic Soccer Program) funded by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. As one of the starting members of the project, Suk has devoted ample amount of time in running a total of eight adaptive sport camps including six in Clemson, one in Seattle (in partnership with Seattle Sounders) and one in Arizona (in partnership with Arizona Soccer Association). Besides grant work, Suk was involved in facilitating the first-ever Football 5-a-side (Blind Soccer) Development Think Tank Session in the United States as a researcher with experts from a number of different organizations across the country.

Brian Peterson

Brian completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of San Diego, and he completed his master’s degree at the University of Utah. His doctoral research focuses on advancing spatiotemporal research of visitor travel patterns within parks and protected areas. His dissertation is comprised of research conducted at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Francis A. McGuire Graduate Student Teaching Award – Alexsandra (Ali) Dubin

This award is presented to a graduate student who has shown excellence in teaching exemplified by the qualities of caring, passion and engagement with students.

Ali Dubin is a graduate student from East Greenbush, New York. She is working towards her Ph.D. in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management. After high school, Ali spent eight summers working at Girl Scout Camps in NY and VA, sparking her interest in camp and camp administration. Her research focuses on issues in camp administration, with a specific focus on children with severe food allergy and the constraints to participation that they face. She has had the opportunity to use her formal education and camp skills to teach many classes at Clemson University including Finding Your Voice, Camp Administration and the Writing Mentor Program. When Ali is not talking or thinking about camp, which is rare, she likes hiking with her dog Ari and spending time by the lake. Her other hobbies include wine tasting, reading cheesy romance novels and crafting: she hopes to have more time to do these things after finishing her dissertation.

Brett A. Wright Award for Graduate Student Achievement – Donna Gregory

This award is presented to an online graduate student who has excelled both academically and professionally while earning their degree.

Donna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy at the University of Maryland. She earned an MBA from the Pennsylvania State University and is currently working toward her Ph.D. at Clemson University.  She is the Chief of Recreational Therapy at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. She has managed interdisciplinary treatment teams and has clinical experience working with a variety of patient populations including individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injuries. Her interests include program development, process improvement, and research related to the health and well-being of at-risk populations.

Marsha A. Ward ’79 Fellowship for Play – Jennifer K. Garcia

The Marsha A. Ward ’79 Fellowship for Play is awarded annually to a Clemson University graduate student in PRTM who demonstrates a commitment to play and the value of play in modern society.

Jennifer Kinch Garcia is finalizing her 2nd year as a doctoral student with the Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management program. Her focus lies mostly within Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management with an emphasis in youth development. Jennifer is working towards the evaluation of nature based free play, and how communities can support the spaces and policies that surround the concept of free play. After graduating with a B.S. in Biology from West Texas A&M University, she began her career within the world of zoos and aquariums at the Amarillo Zoo in Amarillo, Texas. She started her role at the Greenville Zoo as the Education Coordinator in 2012. Since moving to Greenville, South Carolina she has earned her M.Ed. for Curriculum Development and through her work, has been fortunate to be a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Nature Play initiatives along with the Children and Nature Network’s family nature clubs, to encourage communities to get outdoors. Jennifer looks forward to promoting play through more equitable access to parks and community engagement.

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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.

By Harrison Wall, PRTM Communications Intern

Ellerslie McCue is a senior Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management major with an emphasis in travel and tourism at Clemson University. She also runs her own leather business, Highway Sailor, where she makes hair-on cowhide, leather and tooled bags, totes, coozies and other products.

Ellerslie has a true passion for her business that can be seen through her entrepreneurial skills and current role as a student. Ellerslie answered a few questions for us about her inspiration to start the business and how her time management skills help her juggle being both a student and a small business owner.

What made you begin your business?

I created this business by the best kind of accident. I kept falling in love with beautiful tooled and cowhide bags I saw on Instagram, only to realize I couldn’t afford them. I finally decided if they could make them so could I. I set out to teach myself how to tool leather, construct patterns and sew with absolutely no background. I talked my dad into taking a little class to learn the basics of tooling, bought my tools, started hammering and have been making products ever since. My business Highway Sailor has continued to grow and expand as I dream up new things to make.

How are you able to balance running a business and your learning?

Running a business while being a full time student is a huge juggling act that I am still perfecting. I thrive on being busy and I love to work, so this lifestyle works for me, but it is not without its struggles. Time management plays a huge role in being able to do both.

I try to set aside days where I focus on just school and get all my assignments done for the upcoming weeks allowing me to focus on my business. This approach works well for weeks where the business needs to be a priority. Other weeks where I am swamped with school I let the business be on the back burner. A lot of it comes down to prioritizing what is important in the specific moment when it comes to school, the business, a social life, friends and sleep.

Are you applying any of your travel and tourism training to your business?

YES! For starters there is a lot of planning, understanding target markets, and consumer behavior that plays a large role in the success of a business, regardless of if the consumer is deciding where to travel or what to buy. We learn a lot about this in the tourism classes and it has given me a lot to think about and act upon when it comes to my business.

In addition, I attend a fair amount of shows to sell my products, which directly relates to the topics covered in the event management classes I have taken. As a travel and tourism major we are also required to take a business law class, which I think is helpful regardless if you have a business or not, but we are constantly learning about topics that I encounter daily in my business.

Clemson’s Recreational Therapy (RT) Club, led by students in the university’s recreational therapy program, are working with the Clemson Adaptive Sport and Recreation Lab and Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital to help junior wheelchair basketball teams compete in the upstate.

The group raised the money needed to host a competition this weekend in Spartanburg, where you’ll be able to see the top junior wheelchair basketball teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama compete in the 2^nd Annual Clemson Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at the Upward Star Center (9768 Warren H Abernathy Hwy).

Youth between the ages of 5 to 18 are playing in this two-day southeast regional tournament, which is organized by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) and the Rollin’ Tigers, South Carolina’s only junior wheelchair basketball team. The tournament gives participating wheelchair athletes an opportunity to be part of a team and play in a competitive environment.

RT Club President Hannah Wells says that they began thinking about running the tournament three years ago, and have been working towards it ever since.

“The Rollin’ Tigers is the only wheelchair basketball team in the entire state of South Carolina. It’s awesome that we have a local team, but there are only a few tournaments that they can go to each season – and none of them are local,” she says. “This tournament is an awesome opportunity for these athletes to compete on their own turf. Their families and friends can support them without having to overcome the barriers of traveling far and paying high costs associated with traveling.”

The club has played a lead role in planning the tournament with its sponsors, community members and event partners, and is providing around 15 club members to work each day of the event. They raised the money needed to host the event by applying for grants from several Clemson University campus organizations and by using funds raised through a recreational therapy conference they organize every year, including a silent auction designed to specifically generate money for the competition.

Jeff Townsend, the Rollin’ Tigers coach and Lecturer in Clemson’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management department, says that the tournament wouldn’t be possible without the club’s support.

“Hosting a regional competition requires manpower, community support and money,” he says. “These students were able to provide all three, and as a result, are creating an exciting opportunity for these young athletes to demonstrate and improve their skills in a competitive environment.”

Jasmine Townsend, an assistant professor at Clemson University and tournament director, says that she’s excited about being able to support expanding opportunities for these athletes to compete.

“This tournament gives these athletes an opportunity to a be part of a team and play a competitive sport,” she says. “They’re getting rare access to typical youth sport opportunities that are often available to other athletes in the area.”

Wells and her club members are proud to have played a role in creating opportunity for these athletes. Now, she says, they need people to come to the event and show their support.

“These kids are cute – all kids are – but they’re also competitive athletes,” she says. “Our ultimate goal is to have adaptive sports like this normalized and readily available for people with different disabilities, and for them to be perceived just like any other youth sport.”

And, she adds, the event is free, making it a good way to spend the day as a family.

“Bring your kiddos, your pals, your significant others, and your neighbors and enjoy a free day of watching a super cool sport.”

For more information about the tournament, contact Jeff Townsend at townse7@clemson.edu.

Clemson University hosted its inaugural Race Symposium last week, bringing scholars from across North America together to discuss opportunities, challenges, and current work associated with Race-related research in leisure studies.

Although progress is being made to increase diversity in higher education, a recent study released by the American Council on Education demonstrates that more needs to be done. The study found that while diversity among faculty, staff and administrators is increasing, nearly three-quarters of full-time faculty identify as white. People of color also represented less than one-fifth of senior executives on campus.

“One of the priorities outlined in the university’s ClemsonFORWARD 10-year strategic plan is to enhance diversity and create an environment of inclusive excellence,” says Wayne Freimund, PRTM Chair. “There is a clear need for diversity in the leisure studies field, where our professional ranks and emerging academic leadership is relatively homogenous. We’re going all-in as a department to change that.”

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, the College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, and the university’s Office of Inclusion and Equity. Pathway Post-Doctoral Fellow Aby Sène-Harper and Assistant Professor Harrison Pinckney led the organization of this event to address a growing need in research on Race and leisure. “We know that several of our colleagues in the field are doing important work in this area, however, there aren’t many opportunities for this community to come together, share ideas in a focused discussion, and support one another,” says Sène-Harper. “We wanted to get a sense of what research was already underway, and provide valuable input – and a shared direction – for moving forward.”

The symposium explored how the leisure research field currently examines Race, trends taking place in other disciplines, and how scholars can work together to support the development of a relevant body of work about Race in a leisure context. Sessions included discussions about how the concept of Race developed in the United States, a history of Race in leisure studies, and an overview for responsibly engaging in Race scholarship. Junior faculty and PhD students were also provided with the space to present their research ideas and receive comprehensive feedback from peers and leaders in the field to hone their research focus.

“Working together gives us a unique opportunity to see our research through different perspectives and levels of academic experience,” says Pinckney. “Participants can use the input they received to strengthen or refocus their research goals, while also creating new opportunities for collaboration with our colleagues moving forward.”

Before the symposium ended, teams were encouraged to continue to work together over the coming months to develop a manuscript addressing some aspect of Race scholarship in leisure, such as a systematic leisure review, literature content analysis, concept paper or research study. The department is looking to host an annual gathering of emerging and established Race scholars and plans are already underway for continuing this important work.

“We had some invaluable group discussions and generated positive momentum, and we want to keep that going,” continues Pinckney. “Continuing to come together can help us track our progress. For example, will we see increased diversity in faculty throughout the country? Are the number of published research results increasing? Are there other impacts? Hosting this event on a regular basis can help us identify trends – either positive or negative – and create lasting opportunity.”

Feedback received from symposium events will also help guide PRTM department efforts to meet the ClemsonFORWARD goal of making the university an outstanding place to live, learn and work, while also increasing diversity and a climate of inclusive excellence.