RecSpring 2011

RECSPORTS.TAMU.EDU

HOWDY!Due to the generosity of our former student staff, former sport club members, and current friends of the Department of Recreational Sports, amazing opportunities are available to current and future Aggies. Living up to our mission, new intramural/sport club synthetic fields are currently being built at the newly renamed Penberthy Rec Sports Complex. Along with the field renovations, we are also adding a support building with an attached pavilion. The new additions should be operational in the fall of 2011.

The number of current Student Staff Scholarships has increased this year to four $1,000 awards for the 2011-2012 academic year. Sport Club Scholarship numbers have also increased due to the hard work of current club officers and donations of former club members. With the continued support of former club members, our goal is to establish endowments for each Sport Club over the next five years.

The mission of the Department of Recreational Sports, along with our core values, has guided our students in their pursuits of personal development. If you are interested in supporting any aspect of the Department, your donation will be used to continue the development of students at Texas A&M University.

I would like to encourage all former student staff and sport club members to reflect back on their time at Texas A&M. Now, you have the opportunity to provide support to the next generation of Aggies in their educational and recreational endeavors. No donation is too small and all are gratefully appreciated.Fall 2011 is just around the corner. Remember to join us for home football game tailgates. We are set up in front of the Student Rec Center. Also, don’t forget to save the date of October 15, 2011 for the Rec Sports Reunion.

Thanks and Gig’ Em,

James WelfordAssociate Director, DevelopmentDepartment of Recreational SportsTexas A&M University

The mission of the Department of Recreational Sports, along with our core values, has guided our students in their pursuits of personal development. If you are interested in supporting any aspect of the Department, your donation will be used to continue the development of students at Texas A&M University.

I would like to encourage all former student staff and sport club members to reflect back on their time at Texas A&M. Now, you have the opportunity to provide support to the next generation of Aggies in their educational and recreational endeavors. No donation is too small and all are gratefully appreciated.Fall 2011 is just around the corner. Remember to join us for home football game tailgates. We are set up in front of the Student Rec Center. Also, don’t forget to save the date of October 15, 2011 for the Rec Sports Reunion.

Thanks and Gig’ Em,

James WelfordAssociate Director, DevelopmentDepartment of Recreational SportsTexas A&M University

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SERVICE

LEADERSHIP

INTEGRITY

QUALITY

MODELING A BALANCED AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

RESPECT

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Communications Intern and Project Manager - Jessica MentonGraphic Artist - Anna EubankCommunications Coordinator - Kelly VonDrehleMarketing Director - Michelle BriggsDirector of Development - James Welford

DAVID CHOVANEC is the President and owner of Diamondback Works, LP, a construction company that specializes in heavy industrial construction located in La Porte, Texas. Diamondback Works has been in business since 2000, with a concentration on structural concrete, process piping, steel erection, building design and construction in addition to performing its work inside of Petroleum Chemical Plants in Texas and Louisiana.

In 1982, Chovanec started working for the Department of Recreational Sports as a facility receptionist during the spring semester of his freshman year. At that time, everything was done manually. If anything was checked out, forms had to be filled out and filed until items were returned. “The working atmosphere was very energetic and everyone got along with each other. Now that I look back, I realize that working for Rec Sports was the best job a student could have along with flexible hours and great bosses” said Chovanec.

During Chovanec’s junior year, he was promoted to supervisor where he was responsible for overseeing shift schedules and facilities such as East Kyle, DeWare Fieldhouse, G. Rollie and the tennis courts. Chovanec also had the duty of handling un-cooperative students, staff and visitors who did not have the proper identification to use facilities

and in addition took hourly counts of personnel in facilities. Probably the most important duty at the end of the day was making sure all facilities were secured for the night. “I own a Construction Company that averages Sales of $8 to $10 million per year. I have upwards of sixty

to seventy employees. We do work in Petroleum Chemical Facilities where guidelines for performing work are very stringent, both in quality and safety. Being continually organized and maintaining stringent schedules are part of our daily operations” said Chovanec.

The Department of Recreational Sports continues to build leaders through its core values and recognizes that the service students contribute now will help them in the future. “My role as a Supervisor at A&M when working for Rec Sports was my first opportunity to be given a ‘true’ responsibility in the work place. I have carried a very strong work ethic most all of my life and having that is very important in order to own your own business. The work day does not end at 5:00pm each day. The responsibility

of owning one’s own business never stops. Having been given the trust during my college years to carry responsibility through my employment with Rec Sports had aided me 26 years later” said Chovanec.

former student spotlightDavid Chovanec

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The Danny C. Kenney Memorial Golf Tournament is an annual fundraiser held each fall that supplements the Daniel C. Kenney endowment fund for the Texas A&M Men’s Soccer Club. Daniel Charles Kenney enrolled at Texas A&M University in 1988. Throughout his enrollment, Kenney earned a position as a defender on the Texas A&M Men’s Soccer Club which he held until graduation in 1993. After a tough fight with brain cancer, his passing in September of 1999 was felt by all of those who knew him.

Kenny will forever be remembered for his unwavering support and love for Texas A&M University and the friendships he cultivated throughout his time on the Texas A&M Men’s Soccer Club Team. In 2000, Danny’s friends and family created the first Danny C. Kenney Memorial Golf Tournament and endowment fund in his memory. Today, the fund is used to provide scholarships to current players on the Men’s Soccer Club. Since 2003, $42,500 has been awarded to scholarship recipients.

As the endowment grows, not only will it will continue to provide scholarships, but will fund additional Sport Clubs needs. The Department of Recreational Sports would like to congratulate the following recipients of the Danny Kenney Memorial Scholarship for the 2011-2012 year:

• Lucas Dyer• Kyle Friedman• Michael McCarroll• Alfredo Ramos• Daniel Wetesnik

Next Fall, the tournament will be held on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011, the same weekend Texas A&M’s football team will face Baylor. The tournament will also be the same weekend as the Rec Sports Reunion and the department encourages more alumni to get involved. For more information contact JAMES WELFORD at JWELFORD@REC.TAMU.EDU.

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2000, Danny s friends and family created the first Danny C. KenneyMemorial Golf Tournament and endowment fund in his memory. Today, the fund is used to provide scholarships to current players on the Men’sSoccer Club. Since 2003, $42,500 has been awarded to scholarshiprecipients.

tournament will also be the same weekend as the Rec Sports Reunion and the department encourages more alumni to get involved. For more information contact JAMES WELFORD at JWELFORD@REC.TAMU.EDU.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: DAVID CHOVANEC ‘85, CARA CHOVANEC, AVA CHOVANEC, AND MARY CHOVANEC

men’s soccer club fundraiserDanny C. Kenney Memorial Golf Tournament

retireesThanks for Everything

GINA STEVENERThe Department of Recreational

Sports would like to thank Gina Stevener for her long standing commitment and service to Texas A&M University. Before joining Rec Sports as business coordinator II in 1998, Stevener previously worked for the Department of Animal Science for over twenty years.

Stevener was an impact daily, not only for her impeccable work ethic, but also for her special ability to connect and bond with co-workers and student employees. Administrative Coordinator, Christina Richards, described Stevener as “the mother of Rec Sports” because staff could always count on her for guidance and support. “I have to give her the success for my children turning out like they did because I used her advice,” said Richards.

Before retiring in January, Stevener went out of her way to create a manual detailing her position to help future personnel. Gina Stevener has not only left a lasting impression on her co-workers, but also to those that follow.

JOHN HINTONSince his initial employment with

The Department of Recreational Sports in October of 1994, Mr. John Hinton has seen the Department of Recreational Sport’s technology expand significantly through his strategic planning and problem solving.

Hinton originally started working for the University as a student teaching assistant for the Range Science Department in 1975 and later worked as an academic advisor for the Mays College of Business and the College of Science.

“Not only is John a strategic planner and knowledgeable of the budget, but a good custodian of student’s money” said Bill Garrett, the department’s lead IT technology consultant. As a President’s Meritorious Service Award recipient in 1994, it is no surprise that Hinton would also dedicate his time to volunteer efforts in Antarctica in 2000 and again in 2005. Rec Sports would like to thank Mr. John Hinton for his dedication and excellent attitude over the years.

MARLENE WONGTexas A&M Department of Recreational Sports is proud to announce our current Sport Club Graduate

Assistant, Marlene Wong, has been elected as this year’s National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) National Student Leader (NSL). Marlene describes the experience as “One of the amazing aspects of collegiate recreation, which inspired my desire to step into this role, is the ability for students to learn how to create healthy lifestyles, refine their social and networking skills, strengthen their professionalism, and have fun while doing all of it!” As National Student Leader (NSL), Wong will be expected to be knowledgeable about current issues in campus recreation and all matters of NIRSA, as well as be a forward thinking team member. Rec Sports would like to congratulate Marlene Wong for her new National Student Leader position and wish her the best!

DREW MCMILLIANDuring his undergraduate years as an aspiring Aerospace Engineer, Drew McMillen began working for the Department

of Recreational Sports in the Fall of 1985 as an intramural flag football official. After graduating with his undergraduate degree in 1989, McMillen decided to continue his education and pursue a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and continue to work for Rec Sports. In August of 1992, McMillen graduated with his MBA degree and began working full time for Rec Sports with a focus in intramurals. For his first six years McMillen worked for intramurals, but in 1998 he decided to transition into Rec Sports facility operations and membership services where he dedicated another eight years.

Currently, McMillen is on his fifth year serving as the Associate Director for Intramurals & Sport Clubs. What attracted McMillen most to Rec Sports? “The family atmosphere drew me in. It really has mattered all the way through in this

department that it is a value that people are going to enjoy what they do, and that makes everyone more productive.”During the fall 2010 semester, McMillen was presented with The President’s Meritorious Service Award

recognizing his honesty, leadership and service. Executive Director of Rec Sports, Dennis Corrington, describes that the department has “watched Drew grow from a student to a professional and carry the desire to impact students.” In order to create and maintain success for himself, as well as Rec Sports, McMillen said you must “Put that effort in to let the students know they are appreciated. We wouldn’t have any of the buildings or programs if it wasn’t for the students that want to be a part of it.”

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awardsCongratulations

The CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE IS AN HONOR dedicated to the department’s hard-working student staff. A recipient from each sub-department is recognized for his or her outstanding service to Rec Sports. Award winners receive an engraved brick that is placed in the Circle of Excellence, along with a lapel pin or charm. Prominent department donors are also eligible to receive this award based on outstanding levels of support.

One outstanding recipient is Haley Wilcox, who was selected to be in the Circle of Excellence not only once, but amazingly two times. Wilcox worked for three and a half years in the Development Office of the Rec Sports with James Welford. Her main responsibility was managing the Walk of Champions Brick Campaign. Wilcox graduated from Texas A&M in December 2010 and is currently preparing for her position at Ernst & Young, LLP, one of today’s top four global accounting firms. Wilcox went through a highly competitive interview process for the internship, by competing against hundreds of accounting students from Texas A&M and around the country. After securing the internship and eventually a full-time position, Wilcox said that the “leadership skills developed at Rec Sports allowed me to

stand out in an interview and portray that I am a self-confident and capable individual and that I am not afraid to take on projects as a leader and make them as successful as possible.”

Wilcox poignantly said that “The Circle of Excellence to me means recognition of each individual student’s unique contribution to making Rec Sports the best it can be. Some people contribute through alumni activities, others through fitness classes, and others through the daily operations and maintenance of the Rec Center, but the common goal is the success and betterment of Rec Sports. The Department of Rec Sports always felt and was described to me like a family, with each department working individually and together towards a common goal. The Circle of Excellence to me is the recognition of each of those separate groups of people who work hard each and every day to make Rec Sports what it is today.”

y p p g pP, one of today’s top four global accounting firms. h a highly competitive interview process for the eting against hundreds of accounting A&M and around the country.ternship and eventually Wilcox said that s developed d me to

p p y y pit is today.”

The WALK OF CHAMPIONS, dedicated on November 13, 1998, features bricks engraved with the names of students, employees and friends of Texas A&M University to help raise funds for the Department of Recreational Sports, also known as Rec Sports. The Rec Sports Brick Campaign creates an endowment to ensure that Texas A&M continues to have the best recreational sports facilities and programs in the country. Generosity and donations have helped us establish and maintain the Department of Recreational Sports Scholarship Endowment Fund. As of today, sixteen $1,000 scholarships have been presented.

One of the duties of the maintenance staff at Rec Sports is to install the bricks for Walk of Champions. Doug Karr, class of 2006, was a former student employee that worked as part of the maintenance staff for two years. At the end of Karr’s senior year, he was fortunate enough to install his own brick that was engraved with both his name and his fathers, Spencer Karr, class of 1972. “On the day of my graduation, my dad and I had a nice moment seeing our names etched in stone on campus to serve as our lasting mark together. This is a great thing to do as Aggies because it will always be there” said Karr. The Walk of Champions was named “to honor everyone’s dedication to leadership, fair play, honesty and integrity, which are all part of the Aggie Spirit.” Bricks will be placed in the front walkway of the Student Recreation Center and in the landscaped grass area of the circle drive in front of the facility.

To learn more about getting your own brick in the Walk of Champions, contact JAMES WELFORD at 979.862.1856 or email CHAMPIONS@REC.TAMU.EDU.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: DOUG KARR ‘06, SPENCER KARR ‘72,

brick campaignWalk of Champions

honorCircle of Excellence

devotionOscee Wheatfall

When James Welford returned as a staff member in 2000, his mission as the Associate Director of Development was to work with the Texas A&M Foundation and the Division of Student Affairs to get permission for all of the Sport Clubs to raise funds for endowments. Rec Sports and the Texas A&M Foundation began working together during the 1970’s to create the department’s wrestling endowment fund used for scholarships.

Now, over a decade after Welford returned, there are twelve endowments. Eight are complete, and the other four are still working to reach a balance of $25,000. “We are trying to get all of our clubs to set up endowments for the future because this is fundraising from former club members who know what it is like to have to raise money during the season while going to school. Hopefully those students had a great leadership experience here and are now willing to support their club” said Welford.

An endowment is a gift that is placed in a permanent fund. The Texas A&M Foundation oversees these accounts and disburses part of the income from the fund for the purpose the donor designates. These accounts are established for a particular purpose such as scholarships, large equipment needs or coaches stipend. Once the account reaches a balance of $25,000 the interest earned will be available for the club’s use.

Below are the Sport Club endowments currently used:

If you would like to donate to an endowment or to the Department of Recreational Sports visit our website at http://recsports.tamu.edu/development/giving_back.stm. For more information, please contact JAMES WELFORD, Associate Director of Development at 979-862-1856 or JWELFORD@REC.TAMU.EDU.

The Department of Recreational Sports would like to congratulate Oscee Wheatfall for winning the National Service Award at this year’s National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Conference. Wheatfall was one of three individuals chosen for outstanding contributions and exceptional performance to NIRSA while serving as Student Coordinator for Region III. “I am paid to come to work and have fun every day. This award recognizes that all the efforts I put forth are really being noticed” said Wheatfall. Rec Sports would like to congratulate and thank Oscee Wheatfall for his DEDICATION and HARD WORK!

Congratulations to Becky on completing the 2011 Boston Marathon!

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GYMNASTICS CLUB MEN’S RUGBY TEAM JUDO TEAM

ecreational Sports woulde Wheatfall for winning d at this year’s National l Sports Association

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• THE TEXAS A&M SAILING TEAM ENDOWMENT

• TAMU GYMNASTICS FUND

• TEXAS A&M CYCLING TEAM ENDOWMENT

• TEXAS A&M MEN’S RUGBY TEAM ENDOWMENT

• TEXAS A&M JUDO TEAM ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

• TEXAS A&M TAEKWONDO CLUB ENDOWMENT

• TEXAS A&M MEN’S SOCCER TEAM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

• TEXAS A&M MEN’S VOLLEYBALL CLUB ENDOWMENT

• LUTHER JONES ENDOWMENT FUND FOR WRESTLING

• TOM AND MARGARET LOFTUS ACADEMIC RUGBY ENDOWMENT

• GARETH JONES MEMORIAL RUGBY TEAM ENDOWMENT

• TEXAS A&M MEN’S RUGBY EXCELLENCE FUND

supportEndowments

commitmentBecky Wise Davis

After graduating from Ohio State, WALTER PENBERTHY, “Father of Intramurals,” began his distinguished career in 1926 as an Assistant Professor in the Physical Education Department at Texas A&M University. Penberthy was given the position of Director of Intramural Sports when the previous director resigned. Dana X. Bible, who hired Penberthy, was his boss, mentor and the first person to give him the nickname “Penny.” Bible went on went on to coach at Nebraska and then Texas for many years.

Penberthy married Lollie Beth Garvin in 1933. They lived on campus until 1940 when A&M asked the faculty to move. “Our old house on campus used to be right on the spot where the walkway between the MSC and Rudder Tower is today” said Penberthy in The Battalion in 1985. Mrs. Penberthy served as the historian of the Texas A&M Garden club in 1958 and later as the vice president in 1960 and 1965. “Beautiful Texas. God gave it, let’s save it” said Mrs. Penberthy in 1966.

In 1937, the Board of Directors separated physical education program from athletics and placed it in the School of Arts and Sciences, where Mr. Penberthy became the first Department Head. He held that position for the next ten years while later serving as an official at for the 1944 Cotton Bowl. Post World War II brought significant changes in the department. Four hours of physical training were required of all students and the department also had the responsibility of providing physical training to a unit of Army Air Force pre-flight cadets attending classes at Texas A&M. Enrollment at Texas A&M jumped from 2,718 in 1945-1946 to 8,418 for 1946-1947. To meet the needs of this increased enrollment, Texas A&M took over the Bryan Air Force Base, now known as Riverside Campus, to house and educate incoming freshmen.

Texas A&M did not have the staff at the time to handle the vast increase in enrollment, and Penberthy hired Carl Tishler, a previous classmate during his time at Ohio State. Mr. Penberthy was named Dean of Men and Carl E. Tishler succeeded him as Department Head of School of Arts and Sciences from 1947-1967. During Tishler’s tenure,

the physical education curriculum was revised and expanded. The Penberthy-Tischler Intramural Award was established in the 1970’s to recognize the outstanding intramural achievement of a company, squadron or battery.

Penberthy was sent by a member of the Board of Regents to study the training facilities at Strategic Air Command in San Antonio. “The idea was for me to gain a little knowledge as to how we might get our kids in shape before we sent them off to war” said Penberthy. He developed a plan comprised of four hours a week of extensive conditioning. From 1947 to 1954 Penberthy served as the Dean of Men which allowed him to

be a member of the Athletic Council from 1952 to 1954. During this time, Penberthy was the Founder and Director of the Intramural Sports Program. After Penberthy resigned as Dean of Men, he was an advisor to students. “It made me realize how much I missed being with the students. They are what always mattered most to me, the kids” said Penberthy. In 1959,

Penberthy went back to teaching, this time volleyball and handball. After serving Texas A&M University for forty years as a devoted

instructor and administrator, the Board of Regents honored Mr. Penberthy by dedicating The Walter Penberthy Intramural Complex on October 24, 1978, only twelve years after he retired. The complex originally was located where the current Rec Center exists, across from Kyle Field. Penberthy recalled what brought Texas A&M to world class status. “G-I-R-L-S, that’s what changed the University. I think it is wonderful. But the guys did not like it too much. But I bet you couldn’t find one now who would go back the old way” said Penberthy in 1985.

The class of 1934 chose Mr. Penberthy as a Class Character, a distinction given to individuals that have made a lasting impression on the students. His philosophy was to teach the student, not just the subject. “Facts, without values, are meaningless,” said Penberthy. His devotion to Texas A&M students has helped maintain the values the University is noted for today. The first four words of the tribute said it all for the class of 1934. “WHO CAN FORGET PENNY?”

“It made me realize how much I missed being with the students. They are what always mattered most to me, the kids.”

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W. L. PENBERTHY BECOMES FIRST DEPARTMENT HEAD OF SCHOOL

OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

MRS. PENBERTHY NEW V.P. OF THE TEXAS A&M GARDEN CLUB

W. L. PENBERTHY RETIRES

“THE LIBERATORS” WOMEN STUDENTS COMPETE IN

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The GROUNDBREAKING RENOVATION of the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex demonstrates how committed the Department of Recreational Sports is to providing exceptional facilities and resources to students. Not only does Rec Sports provide new resources, but it also strives to improve existing ones.

The Penberthy Rec Sports Complex will improve the quality of the intramural and sport club fields by replacing four unlighted natural turf fields with ten acres of lighted artificial turf fields. This vast improvement will provide more availability for drop-in recreation, providing four intramural size flag football fields plus two soccer/rugby/lacrosse size sport club fields. There will also be less cancellation of events because of rain. In addition to the upgraded fields, there will be a pavilion with amenities located closer to the playing fields.

One of the biggest problems that triggered this renovation was rainfall affecting field play time. From September 2008 to January 2009, there were twenty rain days with 7.24 inches of rain. From September 2009 to January 2010, there were forty-four rain days and 19.96 inches of rain. Rec Sports wanted to fix these playing conditions and assembled a proposal to renovate the Penberthy fields. This renovation would improve the current playing conditions and allow for more playing time.

Facilities such as Penberthy should be renewed on a regular cycle. The Penberthy facility is twenty-five years old and this is the first major renovation. The renovation was accomplished as a result of budgeting annually to build a fund to remodel or replace facilities. Facilities such as Penberthy and the Rec Center require budgeting principles that project costs over 25 to 50 years. Adhering to these financial principles, particularly over the past fifteen years, has allowed Rec Sports to prepare for the current renovation of the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex. “Sticking to our plan for facility replacement plus budgeting conservatively on an annual basis has allowed us to pay for this project without raising the student fee” explained Executive Director Dennis Corrington. “The growth of the student body also has helped us reach this goal without raising the fee.”

Texas A&M has used Rec Sports financial planning principles as

an example through the development of the Vision 20/20 plan. One of the plan’s main goals is to enhance the undergraduate academic experience though co-curricular activities and providing quality learning experiences. By strengthening co-curricular programs and facilities, it will manifest in a greater percentage of student body participation. “When you have quality facilities, more students are going to come out and play” said Corrington. The university also stated that the prevalence of on-campus activities is essential to the retention rate. “We strive to provide quality programs and facilities to help enhance student’s overall experience at Texas A&M” said Senior Associate Director Rick Hall.

Rec Sports is on a fast track to complete this project by September 1, 2011. Construction on the project began on March 1, 2011. The new fields will be artificial turf, allowing for a faster turnaround time to resume play after rain. The current natural turf can take up to two days to be playable. “The primary challenge is completing this project by the beginning of the upcoming fall semester. It is such a short window and we are moving at an extremely fast pace” said Hall. Rec Sports wants to complete the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex renovation before the beginning of the fall semester so programs utilizing the facility are not adversely impacted. When the project is completed, students will have access to the best indoor and outdoor facilities!

When the original Penberthy Complex (now the location of the Rec Center) was dedicated in 1978, it did not have lights until around 1980. Hall and Corrington recalled what a huge event it was once the previous complex installed lights, which eventually coined the popular phrase “WHERE WERE YOU WHENT HE LIGHTS TURNED ON?” Rec Sports plans to complete the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex renovation this September.

PENBERTHY ENTRY

PENBERTHY REAR

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WALTER PENBERTHY INTRAMURAL COMPLEX

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1ST ANNUAL WALTER PENBERTHY SOFTBALL

CLASSICPENBERTHY BUILDING OPENS

CURRENT RENOVATION OF PENBERTHY FIELDS

MR. AND MRS. PENBERTHY JR. CONTINUE TO SUPPORT REC SPORTS THROUGH

CONTRIBUTIONS

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challengeThe BEST indoor and outdoor facilities

TEAMS:

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS CLUBS (NAIGC):

Men’s GymnasticsOverall Team National Champions

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION (NCVF):

Women’s Volleyball Club B TeamWomen’s Division II National Champions

INDIVIDUALS:

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS CLUBS (NAIGC):

Eli Richardson Overall Men’s All-Around National Champion

Individual Event National Champion : Floor, Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars

Constance CuadraIndividual Event National Champion: Balance Beam

Amanda GrimmIndividual event National Champion – Floor

ACUI NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Chris ClarkInternational Trap Men’s Division National Champion (trap & skeet)

USA POWERLIFTING COLLEGIATE NATIONALS:

Tiffany McKinneyIndividual National Championship

To see additional top finishes, please visit:HTTP://RECSPORTS.TAMU.EDU/PROGRAMS/SPORT_CLUBS/

Every year the Department of Recreational Sports offers its student staff members the opportunity to receive a $1000 SCHOLARSHIP. This scholarship was created to assist students with their educational expenses as well as thank them for their dedication to the department. This year, four students were identified for their outstanding work and distinguished role with Rec Sports.

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Gather and revisit current student staff, former staff and Sport Club members at Rec Sport’s Fightin’ Texas Aggie Tailgates! Rec Sports sets up a tailgate for each home game on the front lawn of the Student Recreation Center and provides food, water, shade, relaxation, friendship and fun. James Welford, Rec Sports’ Associate Director of Development, urges everyone to get involved because this “Helps Aggies stay connected with the department.” For next year, Rec Sports would like to encourage sport clubs or other groups associated with the department to host a joint tailgate with Rec Sports. If you are interested in attending a specific home game tailgate for the Fall 2011 season, please contact JAMES WELFORD at JWELFORD@REC.TAMU.EDU. Rec Sports hopes to see you at a tailgate next fall!

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“This has given me a huge opportunity to have real world experience in such

an amazing setting!”-DARLA CADDELL

“Lifeguarding for Rec Sports has been a great experience. I’ve learned

so much and I love my job!”WHITNEY COFFEY-

“It is encouraging to know Rec Sports recognizes all of our hard work!”

-HALEY HELWEG

“It is exciting to have the department support me throughout my college

experience!”ALEXANDRIA ROOT-

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LEFT TO RIGHT: SUSAN ROTHBAUER, KENT ROTHBAUER AND FAMILY

scholarshipsOutstanding student employees

championsCongratulations Sport Clubs National Champions

socialFriends, Food and Aggie Football

WANT THE LATEST UPDATES on what’s happening with Rec Sports? Stay connected! Visit our website at recsports.tamu.edu and select ‘Reconnect with Rec Sports’ under the Development and Sponsors tab to start receiving information on events, clubs and more. You can also e-mail JWELFORD@REC.TAMU.EDU to connect directly with our Associate Director of Development JAMES WELFORD.

reuniteReliving memories

STAY CONNECTED! Attend this fall’s Rec Sports 2011 Reunion on Saturday, October 15th when the Fightin’ Texas Aggies play the Baylor Bears! The first reunion was held in 2001 and continues to be great for catching up with old friends and reliving memories with current and previous Rec Sports staff. Two previous members that are always looking forward to the reunions each year are Kim Greene and Jennifer Didier.

When Kim Greene first arrived at Texas A&M as a freshman, she was overwhelmed and felt like a needle in a haystack. She felt like this because she graduated from Lake Dallas High School with only one-hundred and thirteen people. A friend across the hall in her dorm mentioned playing intramural volleyball and she jumped on the opportunity. “I missed sports terribly as they had always been a huge part of my life. I decided to sign up and went to a team meeting with her. That meeting was conducted by Drew McMillen and James Welford. I liked them both immediately because they were funny, personable and very approachable. Before the meeting was over, Welford announced that they were seeking softball officials. It sounded like a great way to make money while not even leaving campus. I was an employee by the end of the week!” said Greene.

Greene majored in sport management while attending Texas A&M and was class of 1997. During her time at Rec Sports, she worked for the Intramurals and Facilities departments as well as in the office as a student assistant to James Welford. “I gained experience in managing difficult situations, personnel issues, scheduling employees, budgeting, and most importantly, handling myself under pressure. You try being a female official for the fraternity men’s basketball championship! I

was able to gain this beneficial experience all while working alongside dear friends. The friendships were what I enjoyed most and continue to enjoy today” said Greene.

Jennifer Didier, class of 1996, was a Kinesiology major and returned after student teaching to complete her Masters in Kinesiology and Psychology and then graduated in 1998. Didier first became involved

with Rec Sports as an intramural official. “I remember thinking at some point early in my officiating ‘We are getting paid to do this? This is just fun!’ I was very shy when I started, so I was not the best official, but with this job and my involvement in Rec Sports, I learned to be more assertive and come out of my shell. I eventually started working in Facilities, old school over in the Health and Kinesiology Reed building. I supervised individual and dual sports, and became a team sports supervisor. I owe so much to Rec Sports over the years for everything I learned about leadership, discipline, and being strong and assertive” said Didier.

Greene and Didier were roommates and both supervised the Rec Center. Together they worked night and day until the weeks leading up to the opening of

the new Rec Center in 1995. Although it was such a busy time, they were proud of the facility and excited to be a part of its historical opening. “I enjoyed the friendships and fun atmosphere of working for Rec Sports and the fact that you knew if you were doing your job correctly, the staff would support you and back you through any situation” said Didier.

Be sure to save the date, October 15, 2011, for the upcoming reunion! To RSVP please visit HTTP://RECSPORTS.TAMU.EDU/DEVELOPMENT/REUNION.STM and let us know we can count on seeing you there!

The Women’s Rugby Team has used community service projects within the last year as a way to build unity for FUTURE SUCCESS. Because it is difficult for them to participate in rugby and volunteer in other organizations, they decided to get more involved with the community as a whole. “As team camaraderie goes, this is the most unified team that I have ever been a part of” said Sarah Blanchard, Treasurer of Women’s Rugby.

The women started by helping the Men’s Rugby Team with the Gareth Jones Rugby Challenger Cup. The Challenger event is designed to provide children with mental and physical challenges the opportunity to play a team sport. They also helped contribute to the canned food drive

held by Sport Clubs Association and participated in Get Fit College Station sponsored by Project Sunshine. The team also sponsored a child for Christmas

and also took the time to write letters for troops to express their gratitude. As the team continues to build the organization, they

encourage more students to join because no experience is necessary. “This is a good platform to build from for the future” said Catherine Harper, Travel Secretary of

Women’s Rugby. The team knows their unity will one day win them a national championship and hopes

to start an endowment fund in the near future.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: KIM GREENE, JENNIFER DIDIER

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