The Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) named School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) senior Emily Croke the recipient of the 2015 Delores M. Andy Scholarship.
Croke, a Sport and Recreation Management major, received the scholarship, as well as the 2015 Student Honor Award, at the PRPS Annual Conference, held March 22-25 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.
Given annually to a student from STHM who emphasizes community and urban recreation, the Delores M. Andy Scholarship honors the legacy and industry dedication of Andy, a STHM Professor Emeritus and a former Commissioner of Recreation in Philadelphia. The scholarship covers all expenses associated with the recipient’s attendance at the PRPS annual conference.
At the conference, Croke also received the Student Honor Award. The award, for which faculty nominate a candidate from their respective college or university, recognizes a student for moral character, leadership, dedication and practices in the field, involvement in campus and community activities and classroom performance.
“I was ecstatic when I learned that I had won both the Andy Scholarship and the Student Honor Award,” said Croke, who will graduate in May. “Attending the PRPS conference opened my eyes to a career in recreation management. Upon graduation, I know that’s where I want to be.”
Croke has accepted a position with the Upper Gwynedd (Pa.) Parks and Recreation Department, for which she will serve as recreation program coordinator. Croke will oversee all programming for the department, including summer camps and bus trips to historic locations.
Croke served her senior internship with the University of Pennsylvania’s athletics department, working in facilities and operations. She is also involved with the Sport and Governance Association student professional organization at STHM and serves as event chair with the Delta Nu chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon at Temple University.
“With the variety of experiences I obtained throughout my time in STHM and the encouragement of family, friends and coworkers, I now know what I am meant to be doing with my career,” Croke said. “I could not be more excited to graduate, join the workforce and start creating change in my community.”