Abington recreation, park major's success rooted in internship, campus family

ABINGTON, Pa. — Elena Piel is all about family, so it made sense that the Penn State Abington student-athlete found it appealing to complete her required internship for the recreation, park and tourism management (RPTM) major at the Ambler YMCA, which focuses on strengthening families and communities. 

Piel approached the Ambler YMCA staff about the prospect of an internship and quickly found herself knee-deep in supporting operations and staffing at their summer camps. Ambler hosts the largest summer camp program out of the 16 Greater Philadelphia YMCA locations. 

“Before the camps started, I was doing a lot of prep work. Organizing the folders for that many kids takes a lot of people and a lot of organization. We worked on planning field trips and other programs for the camps as well as organizing the camper registrations,” she said.  

By the time the summer programs were underway, Piel was serving in the roles of both intern and unit leader, which is a step above counselor. She also facilitated sports such as archery and pickleball and gained experience with payroll, scheduling and other administrative tasks. 

Her relationship with the Ambler Y began months earlier when an Abington coach spread the word that the nonprofit needed basketball coaches. As a standout high school basketball player and a guard on the Abington team, it was a natural fit. She coached 10- to 12-year-olds and soon became involved in the YMCA’s BASE (Before and After School Enrichment) program.  

Piel’s supervisor and mentor within the program also is a life coach and met with her as she was developing her desired outcomes for the internship and post-graduation goals. The Ambler YMCA seemed tailored to her plans so once the internship was approved, she wrapped up her classes and the basketball season and started supporting summer camps.  

After graduation, Piel is hoping to work within the YMCA network. She likes the connections and contacts she has made in Ambler and the family focus and environment of the YMCA. 

When Piel reflects on her Penn State years, the focus always returns to relationships and connections. Her experience joining the Abington campus community fits that pattern.  

The first-generation college student was recruited out of high school to play basketball at the Greater Allegheny campus, and she planned to major in civil engineering for two years and complete her degree at University Park.  

“My first interactions with the programs and people at Greater Allegheny gave me my first sense of family,” she said. 

But the pandemic and some personal challenges led Piel to search for a new path. 

“I hit kind of a rough spot after my sophomore year, and I had done an alternative spring break trip to Puerto Rico and found that working with people was more up my alley. I had a conversation with the athletic director at Greater Allegheny who suggested that I explore the RPTM major,” she said. 

Piel learned that she could complete the RPTM degree at Abington and save money on tuition, while still playing basketball. 

So, the Pittsburgh-area resident moved across the state and enrolled at Abington, where she enjoyed the tight-knit community. 

“What I really like about the Commonwealth Campuses is that there is room for everyone. It feels like family. Attending Abington has allowed me to build meaningful relationships with faculty like my adviser Dr. Jake Benfield and Dr. Katrina Black Reed,” Piel said of Benfield, the RPTM program chair, and Reed, an assistant professor. 

“Elena persisted and did not give up on the days when things seemed dim,” Reed said. “She worked hard and earned her degree. We are very excited for her to begin using the knowledge she acquired while at Penn State Abington.”

About Penn State Abington 

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master's degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.