Student Receives Scholarship from NYSRPS Friends Foundation

May 16, 2012

PATCHOGUE, NY MAY 17, 2012 St. Josephs College (SJC) is pleased to announce that Karen Diers 12, a recent graduate of SJCs therapeutic recreation program, was awarded a scholarship from the New York State Recreation and Parks Society (NYSRPS) Friends Foundation Committee.

The scholarship, presented to Ms. Diers at the 72nd Annual Conference and Business Expo in Saratoga Springs this past March, is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in recreation, parks and leisure services fields. Students are judged on academic record, leadership, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, resourcefulness, personal philosophy, professional affiliations and involvement.

Now that she has graduated, Ms. Diers hopes to assist people with disabilities toward achieving independence and improving their quality-of-life. She was an active member of SJCs Recreation Club where she planned fundraisers and assisted faculty members in planning professional conferences. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Diers is a lifeguard and swim instructor, dedicated to providing quality swim instruction to students with and without disabilities.

"Karen is well-respected by her peers as well as SJCs faculty, said Gail Lamberta, Ph.D., chairperson and professor of recreation and leisure studies for SJCs Long Island Campus. "Her interest in learning the myriad of opportunities and available programs within the field has made her one of our most knowledgeable and dedicated students. I am confident that Karen will make a marked difference as a professional in our field.

The Friends of Parks and Recreation is a foundation of NYSRPS, organized in 1990 to afford leisure service professionals new opportunities for educational training and development, foster the advancement of research within the field of leisure services, and provide academic scholarships and career opportunities for students pursuing careers in the leisure services field.