RecLIFE SPRING 2017
RECREATIONAL SPORTS DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
HOWDY,
Donors that have developed a passion for giving back to Rec Sports are greatly appreciated. These donations come from former sport club members, former student staff, and friends of the Department of Recreational Sports. The children of W. L. Penberthy have a passion to honor their father. This passion of giving back has initiated the establishment of a new scholarship to be presented to a current Intramural Sports student staff. The W. L. “Penny” Penberthy Intramural Sports Scholarship has been established to support intramural student staff. This scholarship is yet to be endowed; therefore, a new opportunity to give back has presented itself. I ask intramural student staff, former and current, to consider donating to the Department of Recreational Sports Student Staff Scholarship in memory of W. L. “Penny” Penberthy, the Father of Intramurals at Texas A&M University. The Intramural Sports professional staff, Jerrod Jackson and Oscee Wheatfall, challenge all that have benefited from the Intramural Sports program to give back and help the scholarship reach its full potential. They hope their passion to develop students through Intramural Sports has helped students understand the concept of giving back. If you are interested in supporting any aspect of the Department of Recreational Sports, now is the perfect time. To donate or just get more information, visit recsports.tamu.edu and click on Giving. You can also visit givenow.tamu.edu and donate online through the Texas A&M Foundation. I look forward to visiting with you this fall at a tailgate and/or the Rec Sports Family Reunion on November 4, 2017. Thanks & Gig ‘Em!
JAMES M. WELFORD
Director of Development Department of Recreational Sports
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CONTENTS W. L. “Penny” Penberthy Intramural Sports Scholarship 4 Meet Evelyn Dorsey
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There’s a New Rec in Town
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Student Appreciation Banquet: Rec Vegas
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Where Are They Now: Love at the Rec
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Division of Student Affairs Award Recipients
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Sport Clubs Achievements
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Walk of Champions
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RECLIFE MAGAZINE COORDINATOR
Kylie Kinnett
GRAPHIC ARTIST
Maggie Talbot
GRAPHIC ARTIST
JJ Handy
Director of Development - James Welford Marketing Director - Michelle Briggs Assistant Director of Communications - Kelly VonDrehle Cover Photo - View of the south side of the Rec Center
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W. L. “PENNY” PENBERTHY Intramural Sports Scholarship
jobs, even if it is only for two months, says a lot about this program and is a testament to how much they love their jobs. “We are always looking for ways to help, and since many of the students are only here for a couple of months, we want to do anything we can to keep them coming back and to show them how much we value all that they do; it’s a small token to say thank you,” Oscee Wheatfall, Intramural Sports Assistant Director, says. In order for the scholarship to become endowed, it must reach a goal of $25,000 within five years. With a $5,000 head start, both Jackson and Wheatfall challenge former Intramural Sports employees to donate and help this scholarship reach its full potential. Giving back to a program that did so much for you when you were a student is one way to stay connected and to help current students enjoy the same experiences you once did. “I am sure a lot of former students that have worked for us would have loved to apply for something like this and would say that they learned a lot of lessons while working here that apply to their lives today,” Jackson says. Jackson’s and Wheatfall’s hope is for former employees to think about how important working for this department was to them and to encourage current students to continue serving this program in the same roles in which they once served.
At the end of each spring semester, the Department of Recreational Sports recognizes a handful of its student workers for all of their hard work by presenting them with scholarships. This year, a new scholarship was added to the slate, and its purpose is to honor an Intramural Sports student worker for the time and energy they have invested into the program. The W. L. “Penny” Penberthy Intramural Sports Scholarship began this year, through the efforts of his children. Beth Parker, one of Mr. Penberthy’s children, had a vision in mind when supporting this scholarship to honor not only the legacy of her father, but also this amazing program. After all, Intramural Sports is where the story of the Department of Recreational Sports began.
“We aren’t asking people to do something that is going directly to the department, but instead, something that is going to the students,” Wheatfall emphasizes. This scholarship honors the students and their dedication, integrity, and service to the Intramural Sports area of the department. This year’s recipient, who is also the first ever recipient, is Shelbie Carr ‘18. Shelbie is an intramural basketball official, and when asking both Wheatfall and Jackson why she was chosen, both mentioned that there was something special about Shelbie. “You can tell when you see an individual that, if they stick with something, they will succeed greatly, and that is exactly what we saw in Shelbie,” Wheatfall says. “She embodies exactly what we wanted the first student that receives this scholarship to be.”
“To endow this scholarship would embrace how Rec Sports really all started,” Jerrod Jackson, Intramural Sports Director, says when asked about what this scholarship will mean. “A scholarship like this that honors a student that puts in the time and effort to work with other students on campus and serve them in a role that is not so glamorous is a big deal.”
The W. L. “Penny” Penberthy Intramural Sports Scholarship will continue to be awarded to those student workers who help make this program as great as it is. It is a way to say thank you to all student employees, past and present, for making this department what it is today.
When it comes to the intramural staff, most of the student workers actually only work for a couple of months at a time, depending on when their sport plays. The fact that these students put so much of themselves into their
Shelbie Carr ‘18, first recipient of the W. L. “Penny” Penberthy Intramural Sports Scholarship 4
Meet Evelyn Dorsey sense, they really are; she looks at these students, past and present, as her own.
When sitting down with Evelyn Dorsey there was a certain sense of comfort in the room. She had a smile on her face throughout the entire interview and took every opportunity she could get to brag about one of her children or students. Like a proud mom showing off her children’s photos, Dorsey got her phone out to flip through a few pictures from past students’ weddings and her grandchildren playing. The entire conversation had one common theme: when it comes to Evelyn Dorsey, there is something rather remarkable about her time spent with Rec Sports.
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I am so insanely grateful for these relationships. It makes me think ‘wow, maybe I really did make an impact.’
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After 44 years of working at Texas A&M, Dorsey has made an impact on too many lives to count. As the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Recreational Sports, Dorsey sits at the front desk and is the first face patrons see when entering the building. Most people who haven’t even met her can recall seeing her when they arrive to the Rec for their daily workout. Dorsey has been at the Rec for 26 years, and before that, worked at the University’s bookstore. With both positions dealing with customer service, she talks about how one of her favorite parts of these jobs is working with the students. “The people and the students, all of us here have kind of created this family atmosphere,” Dorsey says.
Dorsey has two boys of her own and six beautiful grandchildren each of whom she is profoundly proud of. She talks about how the people of Rec Sports treat her family like their family. From Super Bowl Sunday parties at their homes, to co-workers attending her son’s baseball games, Dorsey has curated relationships with each and every employee here, and those relationships continue to grow. When talking about the other employees in this department, Dorsey says, “You know, we really are all just brothers and sisters,” and that is something so special.
The connections Dorsey has made with the people that have passed through the doors of the Rec are nothing short of remarkable. She goes to a handful of weddings a year for students she once worked with, has taken students to her church potlucks for good home-cooked meals, and has even leaned on them in a time of despair when her husband passed away in 2002. These are relationships that have carried over long after the students have left A&M. “I am so insanely grateful for these relationships,” Dorsey says. “It makes me think, ‘wow, maybe I really did make an impact.’” Dorsey has a love for these people that transcends the fact that they are not her actual children, because, in a
As the Rec Center finishes up most of its recent renovations, Dorsey reminisces on the change and growth she has seen throughout the years. Before the Rec Center building plans were ever drawn up, the Rec lived in the Reed Building, and the current Rec we know now was merely a pasture. Dorsey mentions that one of the things she loves most about this place is seeing just how much it has grown over the years and that she feels proud to have been a part of that growth. “Change is good—it’s always a good thing—so I feel honored to be a part of the change that has taken place here,” Dorsey says.
It says a lot about a person when they have cast a web made of love so wide. When speaking with Dorsey, she stresses that her position with Rec Sports is more than just a job to her. “It is almost as if working here is a part of my life,” Dorsey says, and it is clear to see she means that. Take a walk around the Rec and ask any of the employees how they feel about Evelyn Dorsey and you will almost certainly get an answer that involves how wonderful she is, how she has helped them through something, or simply how she always smiles when you walk by. That is just the type of person she is; one you will never forget.
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THERE’S A
NEW REC IN TOWN
The day most students had been waiting for finally arrived on the first day of Spring 2017 classes: the Rec opened its doors with most of the renovations completed. In May 2014, Rec Sports embarked upon a $55 million expansion with the end goal of creating a better experience for A&M students—and that’s just what they did. With the expanded strength and conditioning room, new courts, several lounging areas, and countless other additions and improvements, the Rec has created an entirely new atmosphere for every student that walks through the doors. A new energy permeates the building now, and that energy makes patrons’ experience significantly better. When speaking with various students in the new strength and conditioning room, each had positive things to say about how their current experiences far exceed their previous experiences here at the Rec. “The atmosphere is different, the vibe is better, and I like that you can watch Netflix on the treadmills now; it makes it a lot easier to run,” Emily DuPriest ’18 says with a giggle. A fresh and innovative feeling flows throughout the building now, and it even seems as though the new environment encourages and motivates students to get up and work out. The new, open concept feel of the Rec provides more space for students to come and enjoy all of the facilities and programs Rec Sports has to offer. The new south side entrance provides an
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alternative option for entry into the Rec, which has been a great way to filter patrons in and out of the building.
it is clear to see how different everything is. While, yes, there is a physical difference to the building now that the renovations are finished, there is also a difference in the overall mood. There is a feeling in the air that was missing before: excitement and energy.
Every aspect of the newly renovated space was thought out with the students in mind, with the intention of providing spaces where students could come and not only feel comfortable but also be excited about working out. “I love coming to the Rec now; it just feels so much more comfortable,” says Hannah O’Malley ’19. “I feel like I am here almost every day.” This is a testament to how change can bring about a new way of thinking and how the growth of the Rec has really changed students’ perspectives on working out. They really want to be here now.
For those who were freshmen when the renovations began, the completion of it all is a breath of fresh air. “I have been waiting all of college for this,” graduating senior Cecile Morgan says. “I am so happy I have been able to reap the benefits of all the work they put into this place.” It is safe to say there is a new Rec in town and it did not come to mess around. Now that the expansion is officially completed, students are eager to be here and the assumption can be made that the Rec far exceeded the expectations of its patrons.
Jake Urban ’20 talks about how he feels as though people are a lot happier to be at the Rec now. “I really like the Rec with the new renovations; there are a lot more people out here, so it is a much better environment,” Urban says when asked what he likes the most about the new facility. When taking a tour around the building,
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STUDENT APPRECIATION BANQUET
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REC VEGAS 2017
With every spring semester comes a night of celebration and fun in honor of Rec Sports student staff. This year’s Student Appreciation Banquet was nothing short of a good time. A shiny sign read, “Welcome to Rec Vegas,” as guests entered the Rec for a wonderful night of gaming fun. The event allowed student and professional staff to join together and enjoy a wonderful meal, laughs with their co-workers, and even chances to win prizes through Las Vegas style games!
Several student employees received scholarships and awards for their hard work and dedication to their programs. Overall, the banquet was a great success and is another reminder of just how much Rec Sports appreciates its student workers!
2017 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 7
From Left: Dennis Corrington, Executive Director, Ken Belden, Alec Blodgett, Ashley Heriot, Shelbie Carr, Allison Meinecke, Suede Mora, Anna Grace Miller, Juan Lozoya, and James Welford, Director of Development 9
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW:
LOVE AT THE REC The Tolars have been married for 27 years, have 2 children (both of whom also worked at the Rec), and—just like with the Drillettes—their love story began here. Debbie worked the front desk when she first started at the Rec, and Bob remembers exactly how she looked sitting there as he would walk into the building each day. “I thought she was good looking,” Bob says with a laugh, “but for some reason I didn’t think she was approachable, and I don’t know why because once we finally started working events together, we would just laugh the whole time.” Any time someone asks them how they met, they enjoy going back to their time spent here and explaining how instrumental their experiences together at the Rec were to their relationship. Debbie talks about how she would set her schedule just right so that she and Bob would work together and how they had so much fun with one another. When asked what their favorite part of working at the Rec was, Bob says, without hesitation, that his was Debbie. He also talks about how fun and loving the environment was and how great it was to work with his best friends. Debbie also agrees that meeting Bob was one of her favorite parts of working here but also stresses that it was not just a coworker-to-coworker relationship between everyone. “We definitely were a family,” she says. “We had our little crew.”
The Tolar Family Let’s just say it can be assumed that married couples who meet at the Rec remain a part of the Rec. For the Drillettes and the Tolars, this stands true when talking about their relationships—not just with each other, but with their Rec family. Both Amy and Scott Drillette and Debbie and Bob Tolar met during their time spent working at the Rec and, when speaking with each couple, both couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about their days here and how they credit this place to helping them find the loves of their lives.
Debbie and Bob have both worked in education for numerous years and talk about how their jobs at the Rec taught them many things that are still important in their work today. They talk about how organizational and people skills—both of which their positions here taught them—are two things that are imperative in any line of work you go into.
The Drillettes have been married for 26 years, have 3 children (two of whom have also worked at the Rec, and their third will be attending A&M in the fall), and their journey started here at the Rec. Amy goes back to the day she met Scott on her first day of work and remembers thinking, “‘this is the man I am going to marry;’ he was just so fun.” The Rec created a home away from home for both Amy and Scott, and it was because of their jobs here that they met each other in the first place. Amy describes the Rec as being a place that is extremely people and relationship oriented. The running theme of how the staff here creates a family-like atmosphere is clear in her story of their time spent as a part of the staff. “When you look back at your life and the experiences you had and the people you came across, you look at it all and you see just how much those people and experiences molded and guided you,” Amy says. “That faculty made such a powerful impact on both Scott’s and my life.” The Drillettes talk about how they still keep in touch with many of the people they worked with here and how, even after all these years, when they get together everything just clicks and feels as if they saw their friends only a week ago.
The Tolars’ and the Drillettes’ time at Rec Sports can be summed up pretty similarly: not only did they each meet their spouses here, but they all found a family here that they still cherish today. When faced with both the good and the bad in life, a constant variable is their Rec family. “You can go 20 years without seeing these people and pick up right where you left off,” Debbie says. The Rec gave each of these couples the concept of family—both literally and figuratively—and that is something for which they will be forever grateful. The Drillette Family
Amy is now an elementary school teacher, and Scott is the superintendent of a school district. Long after their jobs at the Rec, they talk about how certain lessons they learned while working here have helped them in their careers today. Communication and maintaining relationships are two of the things both Amy and Scott stressed that were important while working at the Rec and that are also beneficial skills in their current jobs. 10
DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AWARD RECIPIENTS
SPORT CLUBS SPRING 2017 ACHIEVEMENTS
WATER SKI
National Collegiate Water Ski Association Jade Hanson – D2 Overall Women’s Champion, Trick Champion, Slalom Champion Cullen Parker – D2 Overall Men’s Champion Ryan Brigford – D2 Slalom Champion
GYMNASTICS
National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs Women’s Level 9 – Team National Champions
POWERLIFTING
James Welford, Director of Development: Randy Matson ‘67 Association of Former Students Award
USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships Blake Lehew – 74kg National Champion Sarah Davis – 84kg National Champion
Jerrod Jackson, Director of Intramural Sports: The Award of Distinction
Viviana Flores – 84+kg – National Champion
CATHRYN CARRANZA & DELVIN LIVELY
LOYALTY Leave Your Mark
WALK OF CHAMPIONS ENDOWMENT BRICK CAMPAIGN: The Walk of Champions features bricks engraved with the names of students, employees, and friends of A&M. Together we can ensure that the values of leadership, fair play, sportsmanship, honesty, and integrity are instilled in all Aggies. Part of the funds from the brick campaign go to the Walk of Champions Endowment. To learn more about getting your own brick in the Walk of Champions, contact JAMES WELFORD at JWELFORD@REC.TAMU.EDU. 11
Department of Recreational Sports Texas A&M University 4250 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-4250
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID COLLEGE STATION PERMIT NO. 215