RecLife Magazine | Fall 2023

RECLIFE

M AGAZI N E FAL L 2 0 2 3

There’s no place like Rec Sports KATELYN RODRIGUEZ ‘24

Rec Sports DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

HOWDY AGS! With temperatures cooling down and students finishing exams, another semester at Texas A&M University is coming to a close, and my, what a year 2023 has been! Despite many universities across the country reporting dwindling enrollment, the spirit of Aggieland continues to grow stronger as this fall officially marks another school year of recordbreaking enrollment.

And as the university continues to grow, so too does the Department of Recreational Sports. Our Southside facility completed its inaugural year this past August, and we continue to see record-level facilities use campuswide.

Rec Sports staff and I are proud to continue serving the student body wherever the needs arise; in recent years, that has meant the construction of new facilities across the university, but today our service focuses on renovations to our older facilities to assure utmost quality for our students’ recreation needs. Though much about the university may change as years pass, our resolve to provide state-of-the-art spaces and programs for the Texas A&M community remains steadfast.

As you peruse this edition of the RecLIFE magazine, you’ll notice that this semester’s issue looks incredibly different from those of years past.

We’ve packed the fall 2023 RecLIFE with tons of new content and a fresh new look to graduate our magazine into a more distinguished product.

We at Rec Sports want to keep you informed about the growth we see at the department, and this publication is set to grow with it!

Also, keep an eye out for QR codes scattered throughout the magazine to unlock even more content for this issue of RecLIFE magazine. With these QR codes, you will get access to bonus features about this issue’s various articles.

I’m so excited to begin working with this department you all love, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our next reunion!

If you have any questions about life at Rec Sports or just want to chat, don’t be afraid to reach out.

Thanks and Gig ‘Em!

Haylie Zavodny ’15 Assistant Director – Development & Sponsorships Department of Recreational Sports

PAGE 2 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

CONTENTS 04 Rec-A-Palooza Recap

11

Intramural Sports

12

Aquatics

21 06

Welcoming Sarah Beth Heiar and Youth Programs

07 Operations & Events 08 Sport Clubs 09 Fitness and Wellness 10

Outdoor Adventures

13

Strength & Conditioning

14

Business Services & MarComm

15

New Graduate Assistants

16 Former Student Story 18 Funding Priorities 20 Road Trips & Reunions

50 Years of Division of Student Affairs

Years of 22 50 Sport Clubs

24 Semester in Photos 25 Year in Numbers 26 Support Rec Sports

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writers Mason Kautz Alyssa Muñoz

Kaitlyn McCollum Dhruv Ruttala Sri Harsha Reddy Venkata

Publication Design Sri Harsha Reddy Venkata

Staff Drew McMillen Senior Associate Director

Visual Media Alexander Gonzales Mason Kautz Courtney Kilburn

Haylie Zavodny Assistant Director of Development & Sponsorships

Kelly VonDrehle Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications Mason Kautz Communications Specialist II Editor - RecLIFE Magazine Kaitlyn McCollum Communications Coordinator

FALL 2023 | PAGE 3

‘TWAS A PARTY AT THE REC, AND ALL WERE INVITED!

Another successful Rec-A-Palooza welcomes Aggies back to campus

Friday, August 18th, 2023 marked the 8th annual Rec-A-Palooza! This Howdy Week extravaganza marked yet another warm welcome for the Texas A&M class of 2027. This year’s Rec-A-Palooza welcomed around 4,000 students into the doors of the Student Rec Center to explore Rec Sports with their friends, meet new ones, and celebrate the beginning of the new school year.

The August heat was no obstacle for the thousands in PAGE 4 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

attendance; throughout the night, smiling face after face piled into the Rec, each met with a kaleidoscopic array of games and activities throughout the rec center, from Walking on Water with Aquatics to Stack, Climb, Win with Outdoor Adventures to open play in the Rec Sports backyard. Freshmen, upperclassmen, and graduate students alike packed the halls and courts of the Rec to mingle and play at their leisure, all the while learning what it means to be a part of the Rec Sports story.

Like any good community-building event, a smattering of local businesses and companies active in the Bryan/ College Station area joined in on the fun tofamiliarize passersby with their home away from home. With the help of these sponsors, attendees of Rec-A-Palooza received exclusive discounts and special offers to find new spaces to frequent during their tenure as college students.

And while Rec-A-Palooza did eventually come to an end, the party did not stop for Rec Sports! Free Weeks

allowed students to return to the Rec to partake in the various programs offered by the department, and to this day, students continue to register for programming offered by Rec Sports.

Though Rec-A-Palooza was only a short time ago, preparations for the next Rec-A-Palooza are soon to begin. We look forward to optimizing our event plan for next year so that we can host the best Rec-A-Palooza yet!

FALL 2023 | PAGE 5

EXPANDING THE TEXAS A&M COMMUNITY TO THE NEXT GENERATION Rec Sports welcomes Sarah Beth Heiar and Youth Programs

Prior to joining Rec Sports, Heiar served Texas A&M University beginning in 2018 at the Health Promotion office, where she provided health education training, developed Wellness Coaching programming, and established Recovery Services for the Texas A&M community.

As the leading lady for Youth Programs, Heiar is excited to bring new energy into the department and introduce a new side of campus recreation never before seen at Texas A&M Rec Sports. In her inaugural year, she will bring the first annual summer camp to the Rec, complete with fun activities like rock climbing, swimming, and more.

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“As we get started, we’re looking at ages 6-12, and my goal is to expand that,” Heiar said. “As we grow I’d also love to include some opportunities for teen camps, particularly for 13- and 14-year-olds before they’re able to start driving and doing their own thing in the summer.”

Heiar also looks to expand the duration of summer camps over the next few years as the program PAGE 6 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

“I want everyone who comes to our camp to be able to branch out of their comfort zone and try something new,” Heiar said. “We’ll have a lot of different activities… and I hope that kids get to experience something they’ve never done before.”

develops more momentum. Her dream is to create a program where kids can make friends and learn about Texas A&M over the course of the entire summer, giving parents the security they need during busy work days and kids the memories to talk about at school lunch tables once class is back in session.

Registrations for youth summer camps will be coming soon, so be on the lookout for registration dates on our website, recsports.tamu.edu/youthprograms, to sign your little ones up for summer camps at the Rec!

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Serving the youth of the Bryan/College Station community is a new challenge for the department, one that Heiar accepts with great pride. Having worked with youth previously in her career, Heiar understands the fruits of fostering child development and instilling within youth a sense of community beyond the classroom. It is in this effort that Heiar has drafted the strategic plan for her program.

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With the new school year comes a new program area for the Department of Recreational Sports: Youth Programs! Leading this new initiative is Sarah Beth Heiar, who comes to Rec Sports with experience administrating aquatic, fitness, and youth programs across the country!

“Youth programs are transformative. They help shape youth and build lasting memories,” said Heiar.

“My hope for anyone joining the youth program is that they try something new, discover their passion, and it has a very positive and transformative impact on their life.”

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE REC SPORTS

Katelyn Rodriguez ‘24 remembers her work experience within Operations & Events

Since her freshman year, Rodriguez has worked within the Operations & Events team, preparing facilities for events, helping countless patrons with their lockers, mentoring junior staff, and on countless occasions answering her favorite question: what are facility hours?

Rodriguez’s reliability and excellence in her role have also yielded quite the résumé! She helped open the doors of our Southside facility, guided tours during last year’s Rec Sports reunion, and she was named Operations & Events Employee of the Year at last spring’s Student Appreciation Banquet. That same night, she also received the Dave Chovanec scholarship for the great work she does on behalf of the department.

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“I would not be the person I am today without Rec Sports,” Rodriguez said. “Being able to see myself grow through Rec Sports has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.”

Rec Sports is something of a family affair for Katelyn; she is the third Rodriguez sibling to study at Texas A&M and work for the department. In fact, it was her older sister who first recommended getting a job at the Rec. “When I came into college, I knew that I wanted to be a part of something, and my sister was like, ‘you should join Rec Sports,’ so that was what I did,” Rodriguez said.

“I applied to work within Facilities, and it just worked out that way, and here I am four years later.”

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For the tens of thousands of students who each year comprise Texas A&M University, Rec Sports is just a frequent stop, a place to work out and destress while pursuing a degree. But for Katelyn Rodriguez, Rec Sports is something more: it’s a job, a classroom, a social spot where her closest friends can be found, and in her own words, it’s home.

She continued, “Rec Sports is my home, and it’s been for the past four years. I’ve made some of my closest friends, my best friends, I’ve built relationships with not only my peers I work with but also my bosses. Having that big support system has been one of the greatest blessings that I’ve had throughout Rec Sports.”

She especially remarked on Oscee Wheatfall and Emily Patterson, her supervisors in Operations & Events. Both were involved in fostering Rodriguez’s professional development and creating a nurturing environment for her and other Operations staff.

To Rodriguez, the interconnectedness of student and professional staff at the department makes Rec Sports a microcosm of the greater Texas A&M community; people from all walks of life converge behind the Aggie tradition, each with their own experience of life and drive to excel - but all unified by the Aggie core values.

Now that Rodriguez is in her fourth year at Texas A&M, she looks back on the lessons she has learned over the years and how best to move forward with her newly developed skills in mentorship and management.

Katelyn Rodriguez will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education and looks to extend her mentorship abilities to the classroom.

Katelyn is just one of a thousand employees that make Rec Sports run; if you are interested in learning how you can play a part in helping transform students into leaders, contact Haylie Zavodny, hzavodny@rec.tamu. edu.

Scan the QR code to see the full story FALL 2023 | PAGE 7

SPORT CLUBS WOM EN’S WATER PO LO

Hot off an appearance from last year’s CWPA (Collegiate Water Polo Association) nationals is Texas A&M’s Women’s Water Polo! With such an impressive display of skill last year, one may think these girls have been playing water polo for their entire lives, but for many club members, that is not the case.

“I started playing water polo in high school…but I knew I wanted to keep playing in college,” said Club President Ava Rodriguez. “I had heard about the team, decided to join, and absolutely fell in love with it. Everyone was just super welcoming.”

Now three years from her decision to join the club, Rodriguez leads her fellow Aggies to victory after victory in tournaments, welcoming new recruits every step of the way, both in and out of the water.

“From day one, you are known and loved on this team,” said Reagan Smith, a sophomore industrial systems major at A&M. “That’s just the team we are…everyone is definitely just very encouraging, and so it’s really easy to feel like you belong on this team.”

The club now prepares for their upcoming season and seeks to return to nationals with a close-knit lineup of players carrying the Aggie tradition to success. Through each scrimmage, the team grows closer together and more cohesive in their playstyle. We look forward to seeing Scan the QR code Women’s Water Polo reach new accolades to see the full story in their upcoming season and beyond!

Making its mark as the newest club on the Rec Sports block is Aggie Cricket Club! With cricket being the second-largest sport in the world, it was inevitable for cricket to become a mainstay at Sport Clubs, and the team looks forward to bringing the sport to Texas A&M in a more structured and recognized way.

“This is definitely a very new territory for us because there’s a lot more forms, more regulations, and more rules,” said Pranav Dhulipala, president of Aggie Cricket Club. “Following all of these rules and regulations - it’s helping us carve a new path.”

Joining Sport Clubs brings optimism for the club as they welcome more members. As an international student himself, Dhulipala sees the need for international students to find a home, and for that cause, there is Aggie Cricket Club.

“Every fall, you’ll see about 2,000 students internationally who come from the subcontinent (of India),” he said. “Having an international sport like this, it helps them come into sports, not only as recreational, but you want them to be competitive as well. Cricket is one of the sports that makes it easy for them.”

Aggie Cricket Club is already hard at work representing Texas A&M University and building a home for all interested in learning a new sport. To see more of the 38th Scan the QR code addition to the Sport Clubs roster, check out to see the full story our video feature!

PAGE 8 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

C R I C K ET

FITNESS & WELLNESS STUD E N T S P OTL I G H T

FITNESS & WELLNESS AT THE REC: A PLACE FOR ALL SarahBeth Boothe ‘24 makes Rec Sports feel like home during her fitness classes With over a hundred Group RecXercise classes each week, the fitness instructors at Rec Sports are tasked with bringing exhilarating fitness programs to the Texas A&M community. Such is the case for SarahBeth Boothe, a third-generation Aggie who teaches cycling and rowing at Rec Sports.

“What surprised me most of being a group fitness instructor is how little it has to do with fitness and how much it has to do with people,” said Boothe. “I think that surprised me the most, when I was able to talk to students and talk to participants, and it was so much more than fitness.”

This sentiment is all too familiar for those accustomed to the Rec Sports mission; welcoming all who are interested in our programs is a core part of who we are and the service we provide.

“I’m so proud that Rec Sports creates an environment where anyone can walk in no matter what, no matter who you are,” Boothe said.

“You are just as deserving of the space as anyone else.”

Boothe has found her passion in fitness, and it’s something that she’s found valuable in multiple facets of her life; beyond her role as a group fitness instructor at the Rec, she also teaches fitness classes at her local church.

Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, Boothe was passionate to discuss the value of exploring horizons and breaking out of one’s comfort zone.

“Don’t underestimate the value that you bring,” she said. “Whether it’s in fitness or whether it’s in your job or just going to a coffee shop,… you have an impact.”

“ ” “I want to bring what I’ve learned from fitness into anything - communication, inclusivity - I want to bring that everywhere that I go.”

Scan the QR code to see the full story

PROGRAM UPDATES GROUP RECXERCISE

104

CLASSES PER WEEK

45

SPECIALTY FITNESS

FREE

CLASSES PER WEEK

~3000 CLASSES ANNUALLY

636 24 UNIQUE USERS IN FY23

MULTI-WEEK CLASSES

- THROUGHOUT 2023 -

FALL 2023 | PAGE 9

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES STUD E N T S P OTL I G H T

FROM LEAD CLIMBING TO LEADING OTHERS Graduating Aggie Jackson Bolick ‘23 recalls his growth, leadership, and home in Outdoor Adventures Even before officially becoming an Aggie, Jackson Bolick was an outdoorsman. So when the time came to move to Aggieland, he knew that he needed to acquaint himself with others who understood the beauty of the outdoors. As such, Bolick decided to take a trip with Outdoor Adventures in the summer before his freshman year at A&M. With a brightened spirit and a new place to call home, Bolick began working for Outdoor Adventures shortly after his freshman year began; throughout his college career, he stood by other student staff to teach them the ropes, figuratively and literally. Bolick works as a climbing instructor at the Indoor Climbing Facility.

“ ” “I wanted to take a look into what it might look like to be an outdoor professional. I was inspired by the staff members and the community that they offered and really demonstrated.”

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“He takes a lot of new staff under his wing, whether it be reaching out to new staff and asking them if they want to develop new skills such as lead climbing or simply being on shift staff and leading those shadow shifts, teaching them how to do things in the ICF that he, quite honestly, knows best,” said Emily Wax ‘24, a scheduling supervisor for Outdoor Adventures.

With his graduation just around the corner, Bolick can’t help but admire the impact that Outdoor Adventures has made.

“I’m going to miss stopping at Buc-ee’s in Bastrop on every trip to Reimers Ranch in Austin,” Bolick said. “I’m going to miss jumping in the river over at Reimers Ranch and those small things that kind of wove their way into every single climbing trip we ever took.”

After graduation this December, Bolick will be moving to Colorado to start his career in supply chain management, but not before visiting Torres del Paine in Chile with his closest friends.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRIP RECAP This November, a collection of Aggies gathered in a van to explore one of Texas’ most famous landmarks: Big Bend! Where many Aggies returned home for turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie, these students got to explore the national park and canoe the Rio Grande!

Check out some testimonies from the participants:

Photo by Karley Howe PAGE 10 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

“An amazing experience that I’ll never forget! The highlight of my semester abroad, I could not recommend it more!”

“All 3 leaders were phenomenal. They all were clearly well qualified to be trip leaders, but also made the trip much more enjoyable and memorable through their personalities and their desire to form a bond with the trip participants.”

INTRAMURAL SPORTS STUD E N T S P OTL I G H T

BLENDING PASSION WITH PROFESSION Austin Hebert ‘23 finds a home in Intramural Sports and seeks a career in college recreation Sports are simply part of the Aggie tradition, and some Aggies marry their undergraduate experience and passion for sports into one career path. Such is the case for Austin Hebert ‘23, a sport coordinator for Intramural Sports.

Hebert grew up supporting the Aggies from an early age; one of his favorite memories was watching the Aggies dominate their 2012 football season with Johnny Manziel at the helm. Naturally, Hebert found his way to Intramural Sports when it was his time to officially become an Aggie.

Hebert now works as a Softball Sport Coordinator, a blended office and field role that sees him scheduling junior staff, handling evaluations, and training student officials and supervisors. But don’t let the title fool you: Hebert also oversees the programming of a few smaller intramural leagues as well.

“My immediate softball staff is about 35 people, with 10 supervisors and 25 officials…, but if you add in cricket and kickball, I can get up to about 50 during the semester,” Hebert said.

With his exit from Aggieland now on the horizon, Hebert looks to secure a graduate assistantship in intramural sports and begin the next phase of his career in campus recreation.

“That’s what I’m focusing on right now — getting those applications out there, getting my name out there, doing some networking with some NIRSA people — and hopefully I can do that graduate assistantship and find Nick [Heiar] or Kaulin [Andric]’s job somewhere.”

Hebert graduates in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management.

“ ” “I needed some sense of community. You find out real quick at the Rec and especially at Intramurals, it’s basically an organization of its own…where you’re interconnecting with a bunch of people. The more you move up, the more people you meet.”

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PROGRAM FEATURE PICKLEBALL Much to the surprise of recreational centers across the country, pickleball is taking the world by storm, and Texas A&M Intramural Sports is no different! In 2023 alone, over 270 teams registered to play the sport! Pickleball has quickly become the fastest growing sport on the intramural docket, and more Aggies are signing up to play pickleball with each passing semester! Intramural Sports now hosts pickleball in open, competitive, and recreational leagues.

FALL 2023 | PAGE 11

AQUATICS STUD E N T S P OTL I G H T

STEPPING OUT OF THE POOL AND INTO A NEW CAREER Paige Dowdy ‘24 looks to leverage experience for a career in student affairs With over 1,000 student employees busying the spaces of Rec Sports, students of all career interests find a home at the Rec. For some, employment within our department is a helpful stepstone to an already determined career; for others, Rec Sports offers something new — a career path in student affairs not before considered but now in reach thanks to service to the Texas A&M community.

Paige Dowdy ‘24’s story is not an uncommon one; as a regular participant in intramural sports, she was already well acquainted with Rec Sports when she applied to work as an aquatics worker in September 2021.

“I loved coming to the rec center, and I thought, ‘this would be so awesome if I just worked here,’” Dowdy said.

“ ” “I feel like I’ve found what I want to do, and I wouldn’t be able to feel as prepared or as excited about that if I wasn’t given those opportunities from my professional staff, Carlos [Garcia] and CJ [Stancheski].”

Scan the QR code to see the full story

After becoming an aquatics worker, Dowdy worked her way through the various roles in aquatics before earning her newest title as an aquatics supervisor.

“Being an aquatics supervisor means reiterating all the safety aspects that go into aquatics – being that extra wall of protection, making sure that staff are happy, patrons are happy, and filling all these little gaps that need to be filled in between different staff roles,” Dowdy said.

Because of her work with Rec Sports Aquatics, including attending a NIRSA conference, Dowdy now looks to make student support integral to her life after graduation.

Paige Dowdy ‘24 graduates from Texas A&M in May with a degree in University Studies.

PROGRAM UPDATES

105,837 AQUATICS USERS

PAGE 12 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

100

STUDENT STAFF

26

AQUATICS EVENTS

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING STUD E N T S P OTL I G H T

REC SPORTS: WHERE YOUR GYM PARTNER IS JUST A STEP AWAY Jesus Bermudez ’23 recalls his experience working with Strength & Conditioning ahead of graduation Enter Jesus Bermudez ’23: an aerospace engineering major and head attendant for Rec Sports Strength & Conditioning. With a heart for service and compassion for others, he makes sure strength and conditioning spaces are clean, equipped, and properly staffed. But what Bermudez loves most is seeing his fellow Aggies accomplish their goals. “[Jesus Bermudez] serves as an example for others to follow, and it pushes others to do better within the program that will ultimately help them do those things better anywhere else,” said Federico Caballero, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator and Bermudez’s supervisor.

More than just supporting Rec Sports patrons, Caballero also commended Bermudez’s care for the strength and conditioning rooms across campus.

“When Jesus goes around and cleans the equipment and whatnot, it feels like the piece of equipment belongs to him and that he wants to take as best care of it as possible,” he said.

This care that Bermudez takes in his role is emblematic of a greater conscientiousness that will undoubtedly be the bedrock by which he builds his career, and this care for his work has rubbed off on fellow employees inside Strength & Conditioning.

“It’s awesome to see someone like Jesus care about this place like it’s his own,” Caballero said. “I think his example will go forward and last longer than what he thinks it will.”

“ ” “I like seeing people squat five plates or bench three plates or bench two plates for the first time.

Being there, being able to spot them in those moments brings a bit of joy, and I like being able to support them in that way.”

Scan the QR code to see the full story

PROGRAM UPDATES

1M

+

VISITS DURING FY23

SMALL GROUP TRAINING

AGGIE FIT

AGGIE STRONG

AGGIE PERFORMANCE (NEW ADDITION)

1-ON-1 PERSONAL TRAINING FALL 2023 | PAGE 13

BUSINESS STUDENT SPOT L IG HT

KEEPING THE BOOKS AT THE REC Graduating senior Maria De Ugarte ‘23 helps maintain the financial health of Rec Sports in Business Services With over 1,000 departmental employees and a plethora of programs each week, Rec Sports oversees a lot of expenses and revenue each year.

To navigate the myriad spreadsheets that make the Rec go, there are the professional and student staff of Business Services.

One such student is Maria De Ugarte ‘23, a finance major at Texas A&M. From her work with Business Services, De Ugarte is trained to affirm contracts, track expenses, and oversee large departmental budgets, all of which are crucial to Rec Sports’ operation.

“My role is Business Student Assistant,” De Ugarte said. “I work with five senior workers with accounts payable and invoices, so I can implement what I learn at school here at work.”

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With her departure this December, De Ugarte leaves behind a collection of student employees who she has trained in the same financial skills she has refined in her education and role at Texas A&M. She now pursues a full-time job in the financial sector and hopes to remain in Texas to visit her alma mater whenever she can.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TURNING MARKETING INTO ART

STUD E N T S P OTLIGH T

Sri Harsha Venkata ‘24 brings marketing visions to life through his work in design and photography The man behind this magazine’s masterful design is Sri Harsha Venkata, a graduate student studying construction management and graphic layout artist at Rec Sports! During his tenure at Rec Sports, Venkata’s résumé of work has stretched beyond graphic design as he has also filled roles in videography and photography; you may have even seen him in our recent Halloween social post!

“It’s always a fun time,” Venkata said. “The most fun part of working with marketing here — it’s always a collaborative thing. It’s not an individual working, it’s always collaborating, talking to each other, spending more time and thoughts on one thing. That definitely brings out not only the creative side of it but also fun side of ourselves, so that is what makes this job very fun to have.”

Venkata’s vision as an artist is one that he happily shares with his coworkers. As much as he is an employee, he is a teacher among the student staff, finding new tools and techniques to enhance projects and optimize workflows through the various programs employed in the creation of marketing content.

PAGE 14 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

Scan the QR code to see the full story

NEW GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

Leah Bolitho

Demaris Darnell

Avery Hall

Emily Schneider

Aquatics Master of Geoscience

Operations & Events MS Sport Management

Emma Baker Operations & Events MS Sport Management

Grace Gabriel

Fitness & Wellness Master of Commercial Real Estate

Intramural Sports MS Construction Management

Marketing & Communications MS Marketing

Alyssa Craft

Emily Peebles

Reece Thorne

Outdoor Adventures Master of Recreation & Youth Development

Sport Clubs MS Sport Management

Strength & Conditioning

MS Kinesiology, Emphasis in Exercise Physiology

“ ”“ ” “One of my favorite things about my new position is the opportunity to grow by taking the skills and knowledge I had previously and applying them to a new position and program.”

- Emily Schneider Intramural Sports

“As a GA, I am excited to have the opportunity to grow as a professional and make a difference in the lives of students on the A&M campus!”

- Demaris Darnell Operations & Events

FALL 2023 | PAGE 15

A CAMPUS REC AGGIE ACROSS THE RED RIVER Brandon Bermea ‘17 shows career excellence in his role at Oklahoma State University

Rec Sports has long been the largest employer of student staff on the Texas A&M campus, currently with approximately 1,000 staff on payroll each semester. While most of our student staff hopefully have a great part-time work experience making a few dollars, creating great friendships, and learning skills that will benefit them in whatever field they pursue,

PAGE 16 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

some of our students enjoy the experience so much that they choose to make campus recreation their career.

Brandon Bermea, class of ‘17, is currently the Coordinator for Competitive Sports & Camps at Oklahoma State University, but he got his start as an intramural flag football official at Texas A&M Rec Sports.

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While many students finish their Rec Sports career with graduation, Bermea decided to

In his current position at Oklahoma State, Bermea takes on a variety of responsibilities.

He oversees intramural sports, club sports, and youth summer camps. He plays a role in selecting the intramural programming that is offered each semester, trains intramural officials, and helps with the day-to-day operations.

Additionally, he helps in the oversight of 40 sport clubs, directly overseeing 10 of them during the school year, including event planning, travel, and funding. Summer is not a break time for Bermea, either, for he then transitions to working with a 6-week-long summer camp that had over 200 participants last summer. When he’s not doing all those things, he still finds time to officiate basketball and football at the high school and collegiate level. Kayla Polanco, class of ’23 and two-time winner of our intramural sports employee of the year award, currently serves as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State. She says about Bermea:

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“Brandon is the type of boss that makes sure you know he cares about you personally and professionally. Coming from A&M as well, Brandon helps me stay close to my Aggie roots while also pushing me to open my horizons. He supports every personal and professional goal I have told him and gives me more opportunities than I ever could have asked for.”

While Bermea is clearly thriving in his current role, there are still things he misses about Texas A&M and Aggieland.

“I miss being around the Aggie Family. There is definitely a different spirit and energy that goes through the students and community of College Station that is infectious, and everyone is always just looking out to help others and be the best in anything they do. I definitely miss utilizing the rec center, being around my former coworkers, and of course nothing beats a game day in Aggieland!”

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“First, I’d have to say that I met some of my best friends while working there and just having small talk throughout our breaks or going to have dinner after our shifts will always be some of the best highlights from my college experience.

I also remember meeting so many great participants and each day never being the same. I remember officiating Mike Evans’ basketball game and checking in Myles Garrett to one of his games, so you never knew who could come through on a shift or what you might encounter. Each day was always fun and my coworkers just made it not feel like work, so it was a great work environment to be in while in school!”

“Over the 4 years of being involved with Rec Sports, I had many great mentors that I learned from that came from leadership positions within Rec Sports. One day, one of those mentors asked me, “Hey, have you ever thought about doing this full time?” I never really thought I could, but they all poured into me, and I just loved coming to work every day, so I decided I would give it a shot.

I always had someone to lean on whether it be work, school, or even personal struggles, and I just really wanted to be that person for future students and felt that I could do that through this profession. “

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Like many Rec Sports students, Bermea’s journey began with an entry level position, but his level of interest and responsibility only grew the longer he worked with the department. After starting with flag football, Bermea became a basketball official before being promoted to a supervisor position and also working in the intramural office.

When asked about favorite Rec Sports memories, Bermea pointed to the interactions he had with coworkers and participants. At Rec Sports, Bermea even had the opportunity to interact with a few future NFL players.

continue the adventure further.

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“ “ “I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, meet some new people, and thought why not make a little money while doing it? I remember seeing an ad for it while walking out of the Rec one day and thought maybe I should give it a try.”

Rec Sports is proud of Bermea and the impact he is making at Oklahoma State and in the field of campus recreation.

FALL 2023 | PAGE 17

REC SPO RTS

FUNDING DENNIS CORRINGTON FUND Instrumental to the operation of the student employee and participant advisory councils is the Dennis Corrington fund. Named in honor of our former director, this fund rewards and recognizes students and the work they do on behalf of the Department of Rec Sports!

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DEPT. OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND With 1,000+ employees from all walks of life, there is always an opportunity to support the people of Rec Sports!

“Scholarships, grants, things like that, help students want to continue their education and strive to be a better student and continue to grow.”

- Katelyn Rodriguez

Operations & Events

“The Rec Student Leadership Scholarship is especially meaningful to me. When I applied, our family was navigating my mom’s breast cancer diagnosis. I was so excited to be able to celebrate this gift with my family given our journey in the past year.”

- Rachel Marshall Sport Clubs

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“It always feels good to be appreciated and to be recommended for such an award by people that I look up to is even better.”

- Austin Hebert

Intramural Sports

PRIORITIES Scan the QR code to see the full story

UNIFIED SPORTS With your help, Rec Sports can bring the fun of intramural sports to all! Unified Sports is a Special Olympics program that enables participants with intellectual disabilities to team up with college students across the globe in their favorite sports! To support this effort to make sports more accessible, scan the QR code.

STUDENT STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rec Sports wouldn’t be the same without our students! We pride ourselves on giving our employees the experience and skills needed to excel after walking the graduation stage. From certifications, conferences, and networking opportunities, the Student Development Excellence Fund provides support for student employees’ professional growth.

“Diving into the NIRSA convention proved transformative, serving as a pivotal moment in my journey toward student staff development.

The impactful leadership speeches and skill-refining mock interview sessions not only enriched my professional knowledge but also expanded my network, offering a distinctive space to connect with fellow enthusiasts and cultivate relationships that remain integral to my evolving career.”

- Riley Kohler

Marketing & Communications

“NIRSA really helped to develop and encourage me as a leader in my area. It taught me a lot of great skills regarding leading student staff and developing them as leaders in our program area. It taught me how to equip myself, as well as my student staff, with necessary skills to grow in the role I am in.”

- Leah Bolitho Aquatics

I had the honor and pleasure to present at the Region IV NIRSA conference with my supervisor, Christian Miller - and being up there in front of other recreation employees discussing how we make our programs work, was a thrilling experience. Overall, I am confident in saying that my fellow coworkers and I all left Denton with more knowledge and connections in the field of Campus Recreation.

- Sean Moran

Operations & Events FALL 2023 | PAGE 19

ROAD TRIPS & REUNIONS Your time in Aggieland may have passed, but you’ll always be part of the Rec Sports family! And what could be better than a family get-together?

On May 18, 2024, Rec Sports will be hosting its annual Rec Sports reunion on campus! Join us in Aggieland for baseball, refreshments, and a great time with old friends. RSVPs will be coming soon, so keep an eye out for your invitation.

Rec Sports will also be hitting the road this summer to bring the Rec Sports family to you! The department will be making its first stop in Houston with another stop in Dallas/Fort Worth soon thereafter. Make sure you’re following Rec Sports on social media to stay up to date on our upcoming road trip!

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C E L E BR AT I N G

Capturing Memories for 50 Years This upcoming year marks the 50th year of Sport Clubs, which was first established in 1974. With 38 sport clubs to choose from, the organization has captured more than 300 overall team and single-event national championships and hundreds of conference championships.

For the last 50 years, the Sport Clubs Association has guided and shaped its members to become the best versions of themselves as athletes, teammates, and leaders.

Leading with Aggie Values Through participation in Sport Clubs, students learn how to become an asset to their team while also learning to lead their team to victory. Many clubs have placed and won national team championship titles within their respective sports like Trap & Skeet, Archery, Judo, and many others!

Not only do our sport clubs shape and develop Aggies into unstoppable athletes, but our sport organizations give Aggies the opportunity to lead in different ways.

Students can lead their individual clubs as club officers or broaden their leadership skills assisting some of the other 38 clubs as club liaisons on the executive committee.

As part of the Rec Sports family, Sport Clubs leads by the Rec Sports’ vision and mission to be the nation’s leader in collegiate recreation, inspiring the lifelong pursuit of health and wellness; and to promote activity, wellness, and development by providing high quality, inclusive experiences and facilities for the students and community of Texas A&M University. Participation in a sport club, therefore, is not just about competition; it’s also about giving students the opportunity to learn how to be a good leader and teammate when working towards a unified goal.

Looking Forward The purpose of Sport Clubs has always been and always will be to create and promote intercollegiate athletics through non-varsity sports.

As for the future of the organization, the Sport Clubs Association will continue to cultivate its students to strive for excellence and go beyond their capabilities as a team. Thank you to the Sport Clubs Association for cultivating athletes who lead as a team and congratulations for 50 Years of Sport Clubs!

FALL 2023 | PAGE 21

THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVING STUDENTS

”

For the past five decades, the Division of Student Affairs has been invested in providing transformational learning experiences to Texas A&M students.

Since its inception, the Division of Student Affairs has experienced much growth to keep up with the growing student body: the division has changed its name, added new departments, and recognized 1,300 student organizations.

But the division’s success would not be possible without individuals dedicated to student success.

FORGING MEMORIES As the former voice of the Fighting Texas Aggie Band and Senior Associate Director of Bands, Col. Jay Brewer ‘81 spent 40 years with the division. When recounting his favorite memories from his time at Texas A&M, Brewer never mentioned a classroom lecture.

Instead, he remembers the sounds of his favorite tradition – Silver Taps.

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”

“Aggieland at night is a very different place,” he said.

When Brewer passes Academic Plaza, he can still recall those nights as a student. “I remember feeling those birds flutter at that first volley of the rifles,” he recounted. “I remember feeling my heart race at the last and then hearing silver taps in complete silence.”

Brewer urges every student to get involved beyond the classroom or the lab. “When you graduate, making straight A’s is not going to carry you near as far as being a leader in whatever you’re involved in.”

BUILDING COMMUNITY Evelyn Dorsey is on her way to 51 years on staff at Texas A&M. Dorsey moved to BryanCollege Station in 1972 and started her Texas A&M career at the bookstore, then called the Exchange store. After 19 years, she started working with the Department of Recreational Sports, and she has been there ever since.

In Dorsey’s time with the division, she has managed to build a community around her and helped countless students feel at home. As a result, Dorsey estimates that she has attended at least 70 weddings of former students.

” ”

By Olivia Garza ‘23, Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs

Brewer believes experiences beyond the classroom ultimately bring Aggies together and give every Aggie an opportunity to find where they belong.

“Aggies are about all for one, one for all,” he said. “No matter how rich or poor or whatever – it doesn’t matter. What matters is we’re in this thing together to build each other up.”

”

She even recalls one couple who got married thanks to her. “They said their first date was when they went to church with me,” she said.

She continued, “It’s like we’re family,” she said. “I’ve gone through some tragedies in my life, and they’ve always been there for me.”

INSTILLING THE CORE VALUES Former Dean of Student Life and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Anne Reber spent 30 years serving the division. Whether it was in Disability Resources or Student Life, she’s seen how the division instills the culture of Texas A&M. She said, “Once you embrace those core values, they stay with you the rest of your life.”

Reber also reflected on the division’s adaptability over the last 50 years, all while maintaining the traditions that make campus unique. “We have traditions that have not changed over the years, but the division has, and it had to because our students changed over the years with each generation of Aggies.”

Reber’s favorite memories come from seeing students grow through divisional opportunities

and resources. She recalled a student she worked with that lost his hearing during college and, after he graduated, was able to regain it via cochlear implants.

He and Reber stayed in touch and the two later reunited, where he thanked her for all she had done for him.

“I just wanted to help him succeed,” she said. “I didn’t even realize how much I helped him until he came back and told me.”

Reber thinks the reason the division has been so successful in its history is because everyone involved has one common goal – student success.

LOOKING FORWARD Current Vice President for Student Affairs BG Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. ‘79, USA (Ret.) has seen the division through a variety of different lenses, first as a student, then as the 45th commandant of the Corps of Cadets, and now as the sixth vice president for student affairs.

As the division looks forward, Ramirez says that being agile and willing to adapt to the everchanging student body will remain imperative. “We have to

anticipate what our students are going to want and need to get that holistic educational experience we all want for them,” he said.

The Division of Student Affairs has always and will always play a key role in the education students receive at Texas A&M. When Ramirez looks back on his time as a student, he recalls fondly lessons learned as a member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Band, MSC Town Hall, MSC OPAS and Fish Camp. Those experiences, alongside what he learned in the classroom, helped prepare him for his role today.

”

Over the past 50 years, Dorsey has watched as the division and the resources it provides to her community grow. “With student affairs there’s a resource for any type of problem students are having,” she said.

”

“I tell my staff every day to never lose sight of our mission,” he said. “And our mission is our students. We are their voice.”

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FALL 2023 | PAGE 23

SEMESTER IN PHOTOS FALL 2023

PAGE 24 | RECLIFE MAGAZINE

YEAR IN NUMBERS DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

97

694,386 square feet of indoor space (includes PEAP) 1,797,196 gallons of water in 5 pools 50 acres of outdoor field space 15 outdoor tennis courts 10 pickleball courts

YEARS ON CAMPUS

1, 6 0 0 , 222

55,3 60

1 5%

Total Visits

FY23 BUDGET

FY22 - FY23 Increase in Visits

Generated Revenue 14%

TOTAL REVENUE Rec Sports Fees

Rec Sports Fee Revenue 86%

$20,940,000

Generated Income

$3,518,704

Total Revenue

$24,458,705

Unique Users

STUDENT WAGES

INDOOR RECREATION SPACE

$3,300,000

TOTAL EXPENSES

SALARIES

$27,252,912

$2,461,080

GRADUATE ASSISTANT SALARY & TUITION $287,729

STUDENT REC CENTER

BENEFITS

$810,743

507,620 SQ. FT.

UTILITIES

POLO ROAD REC CENTER

$2,202,000

28,000 SQ. FT.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE $6,725,157

SOUTHSIDE REC CENTER

CAPITAL EXPENSES $5,406,048

63,620 SQ. FT.

DEBT PAYMENTS

PEAP

95,146 SQ. FT.

$6,060,155

00

$1M $1M

$2M $2M

$3M $3M

$4M $4M

$5M $5M

$6M $6M

$7M $7M

STUDENT SUCCESS

REC SPORTS REACH

Retention Rate: First Time in College* X followers

7,717 1.9%

L I N K E D I N followers

1,250 32.4%

W E B S I T E page views

814,803 1.1%

Among Rec Sports Partnerships.

80% F A C E B O O K followers

7,954 8.1%

I N S TA G R A M followers

13,974 34.1%

V I D E O overall views

non-users

89.3% < 1 time a week

92.5% 1 - 2 times a week

93.6% > 2 times a week

50,296 14% *Data recorded in 2021

PROGRESS & PARTNERSHIPS

STUDENT WAGES PAID

$3,300,000

SPORT CLUBS FUNDING

$327,450

• OPENED THE SOUTHSIDE REC CENTER in August 2022, adding

STUDENT EMPLOYEES

1,000+

• 10 NEW OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS in partnership with PEAP

TRAINING HOURS

19,906

• HOSTED SEC SWIM MEETS in partnership with Athletics

STUDENT LEADER POSITIONS

200+

63,620 square feet of space

FALL 2023 | PAGE 25

SUPPORT REC SPORTS

SUPPORT REC SPORTS With an ever-growing student body comes a greater need for Rec Sports staff, services, and programs! Help make Rec Sports memorable for the next class of Aggies looking to build their résumé, dominate the intramural leagues, or embark on an outdoor trip with Outdoor Adventures.

To learn more about how you can build the next chapter of an Aggie’s life, contact Haylie Zavodny, hzavodny@rec.tamu.edu.

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HELP A STUDENT FIND THEIR PLACE AT REC SPORTS Your support allows Rec Sports to provide high quality facilities, equipment, and programs for the Texas A&M community! As a special thank you for donating to the Department of Rec Sports, you can earn exclusive Rec Sports gear! $25 or more – Rec Sports sticker

$50 or more – Rec Sports shirt

Additionally, we will be offering the current student price of $150 for 8x4 bricks in the Walk of Champions.* *Gifts over $50 will be receipted for the gift amount minus the cost of the shirt. Give before January 16, 2024 to take advantage of these incentives.

To learn more about how you can build the next chapter of an Aggie’s life, contact Haylie Zavodny, hzavodny@rec.tamu.edu.

Scan the QR code to give back

FALL 2023 | PAGE 27

Rec Sports DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS