By Kendra Henry
Marc Falkenstein, Assistant Director, Facilities and Informal Recreation, Sacramento State University
The NIRSA Foundation is committed to educational and scholarly projects that enhance leadership development within collegiate recreation programs.
Each year the NIRSA Foundation offers student and professional scholarships so that recipients can attend various NIRSA educational programs.
In 2012, the NIRSA Foundation awarded scholarships to 24 students, 6 professionals, and 30 scholarships to attend the J. Michael Dunn Student Professional Development Workshop. Since its creation in 1992, the NIRSA Foundation has raised more than $1,000,000 and awarded more than 330 scholarships to enhance the educational and career aspirations of our Student and Professional Members
Marc Falkenstein, Assistant Director, Facilities and Informal Recreation, Sacramento State University
From time to time, the Foundation Board will track some of our scholarship recipients to get an idea of how their lives and careers have turned out.
This month, we caught up with Marc Falkenstein, Marc received a NIRSA Foundation Scholarship in 2006 while he was a graduate student at Sacramento State.
Where are you now and what is your current position? What path have you taken along your career that has brought you to this position?
I am currently the Assistant Director, Facilities and Informal Recreation for The WELL at Sacramento State University. Prior to returning to Sacramento State, I worked at the University of Florida as a Coordinator of Intramural Sports.
What NIRSA activity or event did you use your scholarship to attend and what do you remember most about the event?
I used the scholarship to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. I remember meeting a lot of professionals who were associated with the NIRSA Foundation, working the t-shirt table for the NIRSA Foundation and completing my service as the Region VI Student Leader.
Winning a scholarship means different things to different folks; what did winning a scholarship mean to you?
Being a scholarship winner is very exciting. I was filled with pride from my staff at the time writing letters of support, as well as from the recognition I received from collages and other NIRSA Professionals that selected me for the scholarship.
Describe your career track/expectations before receiving the scholarship, to after receiving the scholarship. How have those expectations molded your career path and what has transpired since that time?
From the time I began working in collegiate recreation, I knew this was the career path I wanted to purse. Winning the scholarship only further motivated me to work in collegiate recreation and also strive to be a leader in NIRSA.
What advice would you have for current students and future collegiate recreation professionals?
I would encourage students and future collegiate rec professionals to embrace every opportunity they get. NIRSA provides many learning experiences and growth opportunities throughout each year. Also reach out to staff you work with and collages you meet through NIRSA events.
Our association is known for mentoring/networking with young and aspiring collegiate recreation professionals. Can you share any experiences with the association about a meaningful mentorship as a young aspiring professional?
While serving on the student leadership team from 2005-2006, I was able to meet Tom Kirch and Greg Jordan. These two professionals have really helped me grow and develop as a young professional through their mentorship.
Check back with each issue of the NIRSA Know. to see what some of our former scholarship recipients are doing. We would like to hear from our former recipients as well. Please contact Jennifer Rezac and let her know where you are and what you are doing.
In addition to the scholarships the NIRSA Foundation awards, the Foundation supports the Career Opportunities Center at the Annual Conference and the Recreational Sports Journal. Please support the NIRSA Foundation and our profession.
