Garrett G. Eppley Scholarship

Scholarship History:

The Garrett G. Eppley Scholar Award of Indiana University’s Department of Recreation and Park Administration (RPA) honors the founder and first chairman (1947-62) of the Department. Dr. Garrett G. Eppley national leader in the parks and recreation field, died November 17, 1989 at the age of 93 in North Manchester, Indiana, his retirement home. Dr. Eppley served as a teacher, school principal, recreation director, planner, and university administrator. He also served as director of Emergency Recreation Planning for the State of Indiana during World War II, program specialist for the USO national staff, and regional recreation planner with the National Park Service. Highlights of his leadership role in park and recreation profession includes his role in initiating the establishment of the Indiana Park and Recreation Association and the 1955 Indiana Park and Recreation Law; founder of the Great Lakes Park Training Institute under RPA sponsorship since its founding in 1946; presidencies of the College Recreation Association, American Institute of Park Executives, and the Federation of National Professional Organizations in Recreation; and finally a founding trustee of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Dr. Eppley played a key role in the merger of national professional organizations into one body, NRPA. The Eppley Scholar Award was made possible through a provision in Dr. Eppley’s estate. The award is given annually to a distinguished graduate student in the Department of Recreation and Park Administration.

Eligibility Criteria:

Graduate or undergraduate status.
Distinguished graduate student(s) in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies.
Evidence of academic and scholarly excellence.
Direct involvement in the field of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies.