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 Ģ������ƵStories      October 13, 2025

By Cam Adams

When Meghan Greenly, sitting beside her proud mother, got her offer, she couldn’t help but smile.

The senior recreational therapy major from Colfax was selected as a Peg Connolly Scholar by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association for its annual conference. Greenly was one of only six students from across the country chosen for this honor.

“We are incredibly proud of Meghan for receiving the Peg Connolly Scholarship through our national organization, ATRA,” said Paige Dagenhard-Trainer, recreational therapy program director.

“It has been several years since we have had a student chosen for this prestigious award, and it is truly a testament to Meghan's academic excellence, as well as her dedication and leadership to the profession of recreational therapy.”

Greenly will be attending the ATRA Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, where she will be working as part of the working scholarship. She’ll be part of working conference functions such as registration, room facilitation and announcements.

Greenly will also reap the benefits of being an attendee, getting to network with recreational therapists in the field and learn more about her intended profession.

“Just the idea of learning about new projects or treatments or interventions or just things that are going on federally with the profession and just kind of (hoping to bring back) that piece to North Carolina,” Greenly said.

“I think it just makes a huge impact, so I just kind of want to network and see what else is out there.”

Greenly became interested in recreational therapy in high school after volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding center for people with disabilities.

“There were some recreational therapists that taught the classes there, so I learned what recreational therapy is and the different ways that it can be done,” Greenly said.

“I would say that therapeutic horseback riding is very specific, but Western had the program, and it's one of the best in the state, so it just kind of felt like I needed to do.”

Connolly, the namesake of the scholarship, is actually a professor emeritus from WCU. She was the first ATRA president and the former executive director of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.