Penn State Abington athlete Elena Piel highly values family and community. This led her to an internship at the Ambler YMCA, reports Penn State University.

Piel previously worked with the YMCA, coaching youth basketball. After she approached them about an internship for her Recreation, Park and Tourism Management Major, she quickly immersed herself in their summer program. 

“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.  

Piel’s duties included organizing camp registrations and planning activities. Once the camps were in full swing, she served as a unit leader, a step up from counselor.

The Ambler YMCA has the largest summer program of all 16 locations in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Piel learned of her love for working with people while on an alternative spring break trip to Puerto Rico. A Penn State athletic director suggested that she pursue this passion within the RPTM major.

The student-athlete hopes to use her connections made during the internship to find a career within the YMCA network.

Read more about Elena Piel’s journey of service at Penn State University.