Tonya Watts Brown '82

 

Tonya Watts, along with her parents Clyde Robert and Elizabeth Lloyd lived at 834 Grantham Road. While attending Mechanicsburg Senior High School she participated in field hockey, basketball, softball, the 6th man club, and church youth group. Upon graduation in 1982, Tonya attended Messiah College in Grantham, PA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation. She began her professional career as Assistant Recreation Director with the Mechanicsburg Area School district in 1989. She held this position until 1998 when she was promoted to Recreation Director, a position she still holds.

 

The recreation program in Mechanicsburg is a joint partnership with the Mechanicsburg Area School District, Mechanicsburg and Shiremanstown Boroughs and Upper Allen Township. As such, the recreation director works with each entity to ensure community recreational needs are met. In 2022, the Recreation Department provided over 250 community recreation programs to support the Mechanicsburg Area School District and its communities. Tonya works with the governing bodies of each entity, supports their recreation initiatives and seeks alternate funding opportunities. To this end, Tonya has written grants and secured over $1.5 million in grant funds and private donations for community parks, recreation facilities and programs.

 

Since the start of her career, Tonya has been involved in her professional association, the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS). She is currently serving a two year term as President. Other PRPS assignments have included President Elect 2019, Board of Directors 2003-2010, Community Branch 2002-2008, Registration Committee 2000-2012,and Annual Conference Co-Chair 2013. Her motto in leadership as she serves PRPS is “Alone we can do so little, and together we can do so much.”

The offices of the Recreation Departmentare located at the Trails and Trees Environmental Center on South York Street in Mechanicsburg. Tonya’s department supports this educational facility through programs and facility maintaince. The Trails and Trees Environmental Center is available for use by community members. Tonya has worked with hundreds of scouts to complete their Eagle or Gold Award at the Environmental Center.

 

For years, Tonya coached basketball and field hockey for youth programs and at the high school varsity and junior varsity levels. Her coaching philosophy focuses on the importance of Team as well as developing young people into responsible adults. She counts student successes instead of wins. This philosophy has earned her success as a coach, culminating in a PA State Championship in field hockey in 2022, the first and only team state title in the history of the Mechanicsburg Area School District.

 

Over the span of her career, she earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and the following professional designations: Certified Park and Recreation Professional, Certified Aquatic Facility Operator, and Certified Playground Safety Inspector. In addition, Tonya has received many achievements and awards: Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) Presidential Citation (awarded two times) for outstanding service to the professionals and society of the PA Recreation and Parks Society; PRPS Presidential Citation, PRPS Playground Safety Award issued by Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, presented at the 2009 State Conference in recognition of the safety program at the Mechanicsburg Area School District school playgrounds; PRPS State Awards for excellence in Programming for Special Event Earth Day, Green Team Programs, and Family Series Programming; Resolution from the Upper Allen Township Commissioners for superior commitment to the development of parks and recreational opportunities for the residents of Upper Allen township. With the support of her staff and the township staff, Tonya has written, applied for and received several grants of money on behalf of the township for the purchase of land and the development of parks at Friendship, Simpson, and Winding Hills East; Thomas I. Hines Scholarship; Resolution from the Mechanicsburg Borough for efforts to improve recreation in the community through grants, planning and education; NRPA Young Professional Fellowship Award; Turn Off the TV week issued by PRPS for a week long programming geared towards family and children; 2001 PRPS Family Programming Award for offering numerous programs in the area of family programs, and marketing them in a manner to increase programming.

For all her achievements, Tonya was nominated for the Loyalty to Mechanicsburg Hall of Fame Award by Alan Vandrew, D.Ed. and past Assistant Superintendent of the Mechanicsburg Area School District. In his words, “I have had the privilege of working with Tonya for over 30 years as a professional colleague. I also work with her as a co-member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is one of the most dedicated, ethical professionals I have encountered. She continues to find a way to say ‘yes’ when asked to do something that will benefit the members of our community, especially our youth. She is truly deserving of induction into the Mechanicsburg Area High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame.”

 

Tonya currently lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband, Dirk (1982 Alumni) and visited frequently by their children Joshua (2009) and Hannah (2014).