R EC Life
FEATURING REC REC REC REC REC
Promise: Former Student Profile Honor: Outstanding Full-time/Student Employees Spotlight: Facilities Updates Pride & REC Action: Development’s “Top 10” Contributions: Making Dreams Reality
recsports.tamu.edu Volume 3, Issue 2 Fall 2009
REC Promise Greetings from Associate Director of Development James Welford Howdy! Since our last newsletter, Rec Sports has continued to make improvements. This past summer the Rock Wall received a new outer shell, and a new Bouldering Wall was constructed. Students have been incredibly receptive to the change. A special “Thanks and Gig’em” is sent out to our former student staff members who have sent in pictures of their college days, as well as those who have assisted in helping reconnect with former staff with whom we had lost contact. Aggies supporting Aggies through donations enabled us to present three scholarships this year. Your support will ensure the efforts to grow our scholarship endowment and increase the number of scholarships offered each year. Remember, no donation is too small. Thanks and Gig,em,
Former Student Profile: Mike Beall Mike Beall grew up in a small town just north of Birmingham, Alabama, but was drawn to Texas A&M after a visit to campus, where he was greeted with our famous “Howdy!” An Agricultural Economics major, Mike chose Rec Sports as his place of work as a college student from the summer of 1978 to August 1980. He was an intramural official, officiating games such as football, basketball, and what was then called flickerball, a group sport played with a football but is similar to dodgeball. Mike has some great memories of working for Rec Sports, such as meeting Red Cashion, a former NFL official. “I loved meeting new people and learning how to referee games…my goal was to one day become an NFL sports official,” he says.
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Now the national account director of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a healthcare company of Johnson & Johnson, Mike feels working for Rec Sports helped him in dealing with the adversity that comes along with his position. Mike lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife and two children. “I hope my kids choose A&M and have the opportunity to work for Rec Sports as I did, it’s a great part of our University and where I hold some of my fondest memories.” The Team / Project & Design Manager: Josh Collins / Writing Assistant: Shanna Brown / Communications Coordinator: Michelle Briggs / Marketing Director: Connor Heim / Associate Director of Development: James Welford
Get Connected. Stay Connected. Keep the Aggie Spirit alive.
Excellence
REC Honor
Dedicated Service: Paula Opal & Patsy Kott Long-time Rec Sports employees Paula Opal and Patsy Kott were recently awarded the President’s Meritorious Service Award in recognition of hard work and dedication to Texas A&M University and the Department of Recreational Sports. The award recognizes honesty, leadership and service—character traits that both Paula and Patsy have displayed on a daily basis in their time with the department. Paula began working with Rec Sports in 1981 as the individual and dual sports coordinator, but now she oversees Banquet Services and the Massage Therapy program. Patsy began in 1982 as a student assistant to the marketing coordinator and is now the outdoor adventures director. Rec Sports thanks these two remarkable women for their time and service to the department, and looks forward to seeing their continued contributions which will help us grow in the coming years!
Student Scholarship Recipients “The staff at the Rec Center not only gave me a job and a scholarship, but they have taught me so much along the way!” ~Lauren “I am the first student out of Penberthy Intramural Sports Complex to receive the scholarship, so I feel that it has furthered my position as a leader and example on our student staff.” ~Justin “The Rec Sports Student Staff Scholarship has inspired me and driven me to be a more accomplished student inside and outside of the classroom.” ~Amanda
Lauren Bayliss 2010 Sport Management
Justin Hale 2010 Sport Management
Amanda Zessin 2011 Biomedical Science
Modeling a Balanced, Healthy Lifestyle l Integrity l Service l Respect l Quality l Leadership
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REC Spotlight
Facilities Upd
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If you’ve been out to the Texas A&M Golf Course recently you may have noticed a few changes. We are making several modifications to improve course quality. Here’s a look at the projects currently underway.
1) Cart Path Renovation We are working to remove the asphalt paths
and completely replace them with conrete. Currently, we are 95% done with this project, and we could not be more excited.
2) Club House Awning We will be installing an awning that covers the golf carts and back patio of the club house. Expected Completion Date: January 31, 2010.
3) Central Control System We are replacing the stand alone irrigation controllers with radio controlled satellite controls, tied to a computer. We have just started
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Your history as a part of Rec Sports is important. Make it last. With a brick in our Walk of Champions, you’ll forever be a part of Aggieland. The Walk of Champions brick campaign helps fund scholarships and programs for current and future Aggies. Be a part of their success, and a permanent part of our landscape.
GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS
Get Connected. Stay Connected. Keep the Aggie Spirit alive.
Excellence
REC Pride
dates this project and plan to be finished by February 2010.
BOULDERING W A L L
NEW
Last summer, Rec Sports unveiled a new indoor bouldering wall. This new structure provides a venue for a different type of climbing. Bouldering differs from rock climbing in that it does not involve equipment and is a more social form of group climbing. The new bouldering wall fills 800 square feet and is free for all members to use. Jason Kurten, indoor climbing facility manager, says student reaction has been great. “There are more opportunities for climbing now, and the bouldering wall has brought in new climbers that may want a transition to the rock climbing wall, or just to experience what bouldering is like.” To use the bouldering wall, all you need are close-toed shoes and the excitement for boulder climbing, Kurten says. “Climbing is good to get into because it’s a sport you can be active with your whole life!”
KEEP IN TOUCH! Wanna know that latest and greatest happenings in Rec Sports? Join our database: recsports.tamu.edu/development/reconnect.asp. We’ll let you know about reunions, tailgates, and more!
Modeling a Balanced, Healthy Lifestyle l Integrity l Service l Respect l Quality l Leadership
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REC Pride
0 1 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT
Development
at Texas A&M Rec Sports
T
he Department of Recreational Sports, once known as the Intramural Department, has an active development program designed to provide current students with the most excellent recreational opportunities possible. If you have an interest in showing your support through a donation to the Department or for more information, please contact James Welford at 979.862.1856 or e-mail jwelford@rec.tamu.edu.
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> Welcome, new employees! Chris Budvitis Aquatics Director Ashley Donaldson Facilities Coordinator Jessica Ehlinger Business Associate Patty Jones Business Associate Ross Pike Groundskeeper II Ryan Keller Graduate Assistant Brant Southwell Graduate Assistant
Development provides support opportunities to all our programs and facilities. If you want to get involved, you can!
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Even with our dedicated student and professional staff, we depend on people like YOU to step up and HELP out!
Get Connected. Stay Connected. Keep the Aggie Spirit alive.
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> Keeping in touch is what’s most important! The 2009 Reunion was enjoyed by 200 guests. This year’s reunion hosted the Judo and Baseball sport clubs. To all attended, thank you. To those who provided donations, your support benefits our current student staff as well as future Rec Sports Aggies.
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The next Rec Sport Reunion is on 10/16/10.
> Crew Quick Facts: 38 members, part of the American Collegiate Rowing Association, recently met long-time goal of becoming a part of the Sport Club Association, ANOTHER example of Rec Sports’ continued growth
> We know exactly what you’re asking: “WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?” That’s a great question! What’s your area of interest? When you make a donation to Rec Sports Development, YOU have the power to say where it goes. Visit our web site for more information.
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We’re constantly getting together. SAVE THE DATE:
Excellence
REC Action
HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED Judo scholarship winners: Preston Kirkham, John Ahn, Daniel Gomez Men’s Soccer scholarship winners: Josh Conn, Gabriel Boardman, Colten Bingham, Eric Harris, Brian Moore
The Daniel C. Kenney Endowment, created in honor of the late Daniel Kenney (former TAMU Men’s Soccer player), has awarded a total of $29,000 in scholarships and grown to over $61,000 in less than ten years. It is the largest endowment of all TAMU Sport Clubs.
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Did you know that most Sport Clubs compete year-round? Check back in the spring for updates on Sport Club accomplishments!
Modeling a Balanced, Healthy Lifestyle l Integrity l Service l Respect l Quality l Leadership
REC Contributions Department of Recreational Sports Texas A&M University 4250 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-4250
Rec Sports takes dreams and makes them reality. Your generosity ensures that current and future Aggies will have the finest recreational opportunities. Visit recsports.tamu.edu and select the Development & Sponsors menu.
Keep in touch. Visit recsports.tamu.edu and click Reconnect with Rec Sports (under the Development & Sponsors menu). You may also contact us directly by email at jwelford@rec.tamu.edu