Student Honored for Saving Park Service Employee

Student Kyle Mackay receives award

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on September 20, 2019, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University student, Kyle Mackay, was honored during ESU’s Council of Trustees meeting on Thursday, September 19 by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, State Representative Rosemary Brown, and East Stroudsburg University. This summer (May 12 – August 16), Mackay was an intern with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. While working with the DWGNRA trail crew, a staff member began to choke on a piece of food from their lunch. Mackay, a senior from Bethlehem, Pa. majoring in recreation services management, immediately went into action and effectively performed the Heimlich maneuver, releasing the obstruction from the trail worker’s airway.

Mackay’s internship responsibilities included working the interpretation division, staffing visitor centers, roving in the park and designing and/or facilitating two youth programs – Art in the Park and Science Sundays. In addition he roved on the Delaware River with the River Ambassadors, met with law enforcement rangers, and spent a day with the trail crew.

Pictured here, from left, are: Mackenzie Strunk, constituent outreach specialist for Representative Rosemary Brown; L. Patrick Ross, chair, ESU Council of Trustees; Kyle McKay; ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D.; Rainey McKenna, outreach and education coordinator for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA); Carla Beasley, chief of interpretation, education and partnerships, DWGNRA; and John Lambert, chief of maintenance, DWGNRA.