The Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration department awards up to nine RPL student scholarships each year. Both undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in one of the four recreation concentrations or completing graduate work within the department are eligible for these scholarships. Three of the scholarships were established to honor past faculty and staff within the department with funding provided primarily by alumni donations.
Nine scholarships are available: four for undergraduate students, two for graduate students.
2009 RPL Scholarship Winners !
Click Here to see the scholarship winners
Circle Michigan Scholarship Presentations
LaMott Smith was a beloved member of the CMU family, who passed away suddenly in May 2008. LaMott's passing left a void in the hearts of many CMU students, faculty, staff and community members.
In the spring of 2009, through a series of fundraising efforts and the open hearts of LaMott's friends and family members, the LaMott Smith Award was established to assist a Central Michigan student pursuing a sports-related major in paying for his or her education. The goal in establishing this award was to maintain LaMott's personality and contributions to the lives of the people he touched for years after his passing.
The LaMott Smith Award is a scholarship to be awarded annually in the amount of a one-time $1,000 award credited to a student's CMU account toward the end of the Fall semester.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the LaMott Smith Award students must:
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher
- Enrolled in a major within the department of Physical Education & Sport or Recreation, Parks & Leisure Services
How to Apply:
- Download and Read the LaMott Smith Award Application

- Applicants for the scholarship must submit an electronic copy of their resume as well as answers to the questions in the document by September 30 in order to be considered for the award.
All applications should be emailed to
Gary Baker at baker2gj@cmich.edu
Any questions, please call Gary at 989-774-3689
RPL Department Scholarship
The RPL Department Scholarship was established in 1988 as a way for the department to recognize outstanding undergraduate students within the RPL curriculum. Candidates for the award are evaluated on the quality of their academic performance along with demonstrated leadership in the leisure services field. Up to four scholarships of $500 each are awarded annually.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the RPL Departmental Scholarship students must:
- Have a signed RPL major
- Have completed eight hours of RPL coursework
- Demonstrate a 3.0 overall GPA in RPL coursework
- Have not received this award previously
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the RPL Department Scholarship Application

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the February 15, 2010 deadline to:
Central Michigan University
Scholarship Review Committee
RPL Department
Finch 214
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
The G. Patrick Doyle Prize was established as an undergraduate award in 1990 in honor of a former educator and friend of students in the RPL department. Pat Doyle founded our present internship program and was the first director of the Center for Leisure Services. He stressed the importance of preparing students both academically and practically. Pat viewed the internship as a cumulative experience that provided all students with the ability to succeed. Candidates for this award are evaluated on their potential for and demonstrated leadership in the leisure services field. Up to three awards of $500 each are presented annually.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the G. Patrick Doyle Prize students must:
- Be presently engaged in an internship experience or planning to begin an internship during the calendar year of application
- Have a signed major in the RPL Department
- Have not received this award previously
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the G. Patrick Doyle Prize Application

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the February 15, 2010 deadline to:
Central Michigan University
Scholarship Review Committee
RPL Department
Finch 214
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Ron & Susan Bacon Outdoor Recreation Award
The Ron & Susan Bacon Outdoor Recreation Award was established by Ron Bacon in 2007 in honor of his parents, Ronald R. and Sophia Bacon. This annual scholarship of $500 will be awarded to a Central Michigan University student that meets the criteria listed here and is chosen by the RPL Awards Committee.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the Ron & Susan Bacon Outdoor Recreation Award students must:
- Have a signed major in the outdoor recreation concentration
- Have reached the ranking of Junior, having earned a minimum of 56 credit hours
- Be returning to Central Michigan University in the Fall of the application year
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the Ron & Susan Bacon Outdoor Recreation Award

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the February 15, 2010 deadline to:
Central Michigan University
Scholarship Review Committee
RPL Department
Finch 214
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
The Donald F. Lutz Prize was established in 1993 to honor an educator who was the initiator and leader for courses in facility and park planning at Central Michigan University. Dr. Lutz was on the CMU faculty for 16 years, the Eastern Michigan University faculty for six years, and a community recreation practitioner for seven years. Candidates for this award are graduate students who demonstrate outstanding potential for or leadership in the leisure field. One award of $750 is available annually.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the Donald F. Lutz Prize students must:
- Be enrolled as a graduate student with a signed program plan in the RPL Department
- Have successfully completed (B- or above) nine hours of RPL graduate credit
- Exhibit potential for outstanding leadership in the leisure field
- Have not received this award previously
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the Donald F. Lutz Prize Application

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the February 15, 2010 deadline to:
Central Michigan University
Scholarship Review Committee
RPL Department
Finch 214
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
The Agnes B. Rainwater Award was established in 1994 in honor of an educator who for four years gave of herself to improve the quality and academic standards of the RPL graduate program. Under her leadership, new courses were developed and a graduate handbook and flier were produced. Dr. Rainwater also developed and taught new courses in Leisure Education, Drug & Alcohol Dependency, Evaluation in Recreation & Leisure Services, and Issues in Leisure. Her retirement from Central Michigan University culminated 27 years of teaching at Eastern Michigan University, the University of Nebraska, Eastern Montana College, University of Oregon, and University of Northern Colorado. Candidates for this award are graduate students who demonstrate outstanding scholarly activity.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the Agnes B. Rainwater Award students must:
- Be enrolled as a graduate student with a signed program plan in the RPL Department
- Have successfully completed (B- or above) nine hours of RPL graduate credit
- Have the thesis scholarly option application completed and signed by all committee members or provide documentation detailing scholarly activity in the field (i.e. research; grants; articles)
- Have not received this award previously
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the Agnes B. Rainwater Award Application

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail both forms from the prior steps no later than the February 15, 2010 deadline to:
Central Michigan University
Scholarship Review Committee
RPL Department
Finch 214
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
William Brehm Tourism Scholarship
The William Brehm Tourism Scholarship was established by the Mount Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors in 2007 in honor of Mr. Brehm for his dedication to the tourism industry in Isabella County. This annual scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded by the Mount Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to a Central Michigan University student that meets the criteria listed here and is chosen by the MPACVB's Awards Committee.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the William Brehm Tourism Scholarship students must:
- Be majoring in the tourism related field of study; Marketing & Hospitality or Recreation, Parks & Leisure
- Have reached ranking of Junior, having earned a minimum of 56 credit hours
- Have a GPA of no less that 3.00
- Be enrolled at Central Michigan University in the Fall of 2008
- Have a signed Major in Marketing & Hospitality or recreation, Parks & Leisure
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the William Brehm Tourism Scholarship form

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the March 31, 2010 deadline to:
Chris Rowley, Executive Director
Mount Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
144 E Broadway
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Each year Michigan Recreation and Park Association presents Scholarship and Internship Awards to outstanding Park and Recreation students who attend Michigan colleges and universities. Every student is encouraged to become a member of MRPA and apply for either a scholarship or an internship award.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the MRPA Scholarship students must:
- Be an MRPA member (application available online here)
- Be enrolled in a Michigan University or College
- Have completed a minimum of 9 credits in Recreation at time of application
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the MRPA Scholarship form

- Download and read the MRPA Scholarship Application Requirements

- Download and read the MRPA Scholarship Information

- Download and read the MRPA Student Member Scholarship Opportunity

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the February 17, 2010 deadline to:
MRPA
2465 Woodlake Circle
Suite 180
Okemos, MI 48864
517.485.9888
Rebecca McCann Scholarship
The Rebecca McCann Scholarship was developed in effort to seek a strong leader among the scholarship applicants.
Eligibility Factors:
To be eligible for the Rebecca McCann Scholarship students must:
- TBA...
How to Apply:
- Download and complete the Rebecca McCann Scholarship form

- Download and have faculty member complete the Faculty Recommendation form

- Mail all required materials from the prior steps no later than the February 17, 2010 deadline to:
Chris Rowley, Executive Director
Mount Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
144 E Broadway
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858