Originally from South Bend, Washington, Emily moved around frequently growing up. She even lived in Spain for five years! Emily decided to attend Portland State University to study general science, focusing on chemistry and biology. She chose Portland State because it is close to where she grew up and where her family is now.
Emily started working at Campus Rec in 2016 when she got involved in the FLASH program, which stands for Freshman Learners Acquiring Skills in Higher Education. On the first day of the program, the FLASH leader asked if anyone in the group wanted to be a lifeguard. A bit unsure, Emily and a few others in the program raised their hands. To their surprise, they were told to get their swimsuits and be back in two hours to take the prerequisite exam. Emily had never swam laps in her life, but after two weekends of training, she became a certified lifeguard.
“I worked at Campus Rec for almost four years, so it’s almost like a second home to me,” says Emily. “I started out as a Lifeguard, and held multiple positions over the years including Student Building Supervisor, Swim Instructor, Head Lifeguard, and Safety Instructor.”
Before graduating in the spring of 2020, Emily held the position of Safety & Risk Management Student Coordinator and oversaw all of the safety instructors and Campus Rec safety courses including first aid, CPR, AED, and bloodborne pathogen (BBP) courses. She won a Campus Rec Student Coordinator Award for her exceptional work on the Aquatics, Member Services, and Student Building Supervisor teams.
Emily’s favorite aspect of working at Campus Rec was getting to work closely with the lifeguards and other Campus Rec employees on how to be prepared during emergencies by learning life-saving skills in Red Cross courses.
“What I love most about Campus Rec is that it’s a great place to find community, whether you work there or work out there!” Emily shares.
Emily stands out as an exceptional Campus Rec alum and an essential part of our community. Thank you, Emily, and congrats on your graduation!
Each year, Campus Rec gives out awards to outstanding student employees who have gone above and beyond. The Student Coordinator Award recognizes outstanding work by Campus Rec student coordinators. It is awarded to students who display high qualities of our values and is presented in recognition of the student’s outstanding contribution to Campus Rec. This year, Emily Quan won a Student Coordinator Award for her exceptional work on the Aquatics, Member Services, and Student Building Supervisor teams at Campus Rec.