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College of Natural Resources
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

NC Recreation & Parks Scholarships Awarded at NCRPA Annual Conference

October 28, 2022
PRTM Alums showing wolfpack pride (wolf ears) at NCRPA Fall 2022 Conference - NC Recreation & Parks Scholarships Awarded at NCRPA Annual Conference - Parks Recreation and Tourism Management NC State University
Proud PRTM alums show their wolfpack pride at the NCRPA Conference in Greenville, NC (C.Lewis)

Professionals from throughout North Carolina gathered at the Greenville Convention Center in October 2022 to take advantage of networking opportunities, education sessions and panel discussions. Alums from NC State’s department of parks, recreation and tourism management (PRTM) turned out in force. Several PRTM students received scholarships from the NC Recreation & Parks Scholarship Foundation:

> Lauralynn Ellis, Mable Smith & Anne Gordon Scholarship
> Katharina Deutsch, Harold Moses Scholarship
> Lauren Gibson, Fletcher Graduate Scholarship

NCRPA executive director, Michelle Wells kicked of the conference encouraging attendees to honor the them: Refresh, Refocus and Renew. Wells graduated from NC State with bachelor of science in recreation resources administration followed by a graduate certificate in non-profit/public/organizational management and a master of public administration.

NCRPA executive director, MIchelle Wells and Gary Mills, director of Kannapolis
parks and recreation (October 2022)

At the closing awards ceremony, Wells congratulated Gary Mills, director of Kannapolis parks and recreation on receiving the 2022 fellow award. Mills earned his bachelor of science in recreation resources administration and completed a masters of science in parks, recreation and tourism management. He is also a certified parks and recreation professional and playground safety inspector.

Alum Allie Burress is the volunteer coordinator for the department of aging in Orange county where she started as a recreation program coordinator and also served as a facility manager. A graduate of PRTM with a master of science in parks, recreation and leisure studies, Burress led an interactive presentation on volunteer recruitment and management.

Felicia Brown, parks and recreation director in Goldsboro with Allie Burress,
volunteer coordinator for the department of aging in Orange county, NC.

Throughout the conference, PRTM alums made it a point to stop by the exhibition booth in hopes of reuniting with other alums. They were not diappointed.

Alums Maggie Massey, youth center director and Mark Geiger, youth athletic supervisor
at Burlington recreation and parks.

NCRPA is the premier nonprofit education and advocacy organization, dedicated to the advancement of the park, recreation and leisure professions in our state. The NC Recreation and Parks Scholarship Foundation provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships to qualified and deserving students who are pursuing an education for a career in the recreation and parks profession and to qualified professionals seeking continuing education for career enhancement. Areas of educational emphasis include, but are not limited to, curricula in municipal and county recreation, local and state parks, therapeutic and forestry.