Temple University Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy (BSRT) students are gaining hands-on, real-world experience this semester through 26 internship placements nationwide, including seven out-of-state placements spanning from New York to Hawaii. The internships place students in a wide range of healthcare, human service and community-based settings, giving them exposure to diverse populations and levels of care.

“It’s rewarding to see our students applying what they’ve learned in such varied settings,” said Ann E. Dolloff, CTRS, M.Ed., instructor and fieldwork coordinator for the recreational therapy program. “These experiences help prepare them for the realities of professional practice.”

Out-of-state internship placements include:

• Gordon Stamler – Atascadero State Hospital (California), a forensic psychiatric hospital within the state prison system
• Lexi Crossland – Shriners Hospital for Children (Honolulu, Hawaii), pediatric recreational therapy
• Emily Butterman – Shriners Hospital for Children (Honolulu, Hawaii), pediatric recreational therapy
• Sophia Santiago – Youth Villages Inner Harbour Campus (Douglasville, Georgia), a residential psychiatric treatment center for children and youth
• Kelsey Jardine – Shepherd Center (Atlanta, Georgia), physical rehabilitation
• Gelena Baker – Ascendigo Autism Services (Carbondale, Colorado)
• Trinity Allen – VA Medical Center (Hudson Valley, New York)

In addition to these placements, 19 BSRT students are completing internships throughout the greater Philadelphia area, supporting hospitals, community organizations, and health care providers close to home.

“These internships give students a clearer picture of how recreational therapy works in practice,” said Aurora Verlin, MS, CTRS, instructor of recreational therapy. “They’re building skills, confidence, and professional perspective that will serve them well after graduation.”