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WASSINK RETIRES AS COORDINATOR OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

During the past 28 years, Hal Wassink oversaw a vast growth in student activities at Clarion University. Wassink plans to retire as Coordinator of Student Activities this summer.

"It doesn’t seem like 28 years," he reflected. "One of the great joys in this job was working with the students and staff members. I expect I will miss that part of the job the most."

Originally from the Jamestown, NY, area, Wassink is concluding 37 years in higher education. He received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Bowling Green University and first worked as a residence hall manager at his alma mater before accepting a position as associate dean of students at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IN, in 1969. He accepted the Clarion University position in 1973.

There were 63 recognized student organizations when Wassink arrived. He will leave with 140 recognized student organizations in place. "There are more, varied activities today than ever before at Clarion because of many organizations willing to do programming," he says. "Clarion is able to provide more opportunities today because of its comprehensive Gemmell Student Center, Recreation Center, Community Service Learning Program, and the continued growth of viable campus organizations."

Wassink’s office was originally located in Harvey Hall. It moved to the Riemer Center, which later was renovated and expanded to become the current Gemmell Student Complex. "I was excited to be a part of designing the Gemmell Complex and the Recreation Center," he says.

Among the major activities Wassink initiated are the annual Activities Day and Family Day on campus. He also was involved in the growth of recreation activities in through the construction of sand volleyball courts, and improvements to the basketball and tennis courts on campus. He also initiated the residence hall recreation equipment program, which will be taken over in the fall by the Interhall Council."

Finally, Wassink noted that his greatest accomplishments might be the establishing of positive relationships with students, student organizations, Student Senate, and most of the departments at the university including music, speech communication and theatre, athletics, and maintenance.

A final honor was given to Wassink by the Clarion University Student Senate through the creation of the Dr. George Curtis-Hal Wassink Outstanding Student Service Award. The award will be presented each spring to an administrator or faculty member who portrays excellence in the area of service to students, as Curtis and Wassink did throughout their careers. The award is co named for Dr. George Curtis, vice president for student services at Clarion University from 1968 - 2001.

Wassink and his wife, Brenda, who reside in Knox intend to remain in the area. They want to do some traveling and visit their sons, Derek, an architectural engineer in Florida, and Bret, a U.S. Border Patrol agent in California. Wassink also plans to continue to play racquetball and be active with the Edinburgh Presbyterian Church in Knox and the Knox Lions Club. "I knew it was time to go when the sons and daughters of students who worked in my office started coming to Clarion too," says Wassink. "I appreciate the fact that I was able to work in the setting I found on this campus. The growth of Student Activities parallels the growth of the university. I like to think that the Student Activities Office has had a significant involvement in the retention of students."

-- From the Clarion University of Pennsylvania Newswire