The West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences made a significant impact at this year’s ShapeWV Conference held over the weekend at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. CAHS was well represented through a combination of presentations, exhibits, and awards recognizing the college’s faculty, students, and alumni.
The ShapeWV Conference provided a platform for CAHS to showcase its leadership in health and education, underscoring the college’s commitment to advancing these fields through research, service, and education.
Among those earning top honors was Jane Lee Wolkoff, a 1983 graduate of WVU, who received the Ray O. Duncan Award. This distinguished award, named after the former WVU dean of physical education, honors professionals who have provided exemplary service in the fields of health and physical education over an extended period. Wolkoff’s extensive involvement with SHAPEWV includes her roles as treasurer, president, and long-time member of the convention planning committee.
James Wyant, associate professor in the WVU School of Sport Sciences, was honored with the Honor Award, which recognizes members of SHAPEWV who have inspired others through their service and leadership. Wyant has served as the Associate Director in the School of Sport Sciences since 2023 and is a two-time Teacher of the Year within the school. He’s made extensive contributions to research, teaching, and service and was recognized as the ShapeWV Scholar of the Year in 2021.
Lyndsay Burneisen was awarded the Young Professional Award for her contributions to SHAPEWV and the field of health and physical education with fewer than 15 years of experience. Burneisen, a doctoral candidate at WVU, has actively contributed to state and national SHAPE conferences, presenting on topics such as integrating technology into secondary physical education, advancing physical literacy, and promoting best practices in online physical education.
At the student level, Tanner Cloce was recognized with the Bea N. Orr Undergraduate Student Award for his outstanding achievements at WVU and his dedication to his future profession. Cloce is active in both the WVU Country Roads Program and Friday Program, which support students with disabilities, and is also a member of the WVU Physical Education and Kinesiology Leadership Council where he advocates for program growth and organizes community physical activity events.
Additionally, graduate student Jessica Riffee was presented with the Eloise Elliott Graduate Student Award, named after Dr. Eloise Elliott, Ware Distinguished Professor in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences. This award highlights Riffee’s academic performance and her contributions to SHAPEWV and the profession, including leading the Evaluation and Surveillance work group for the Center for ActiveWV and contributed to the development of the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan.
In addition to these honors, CAHS contributed significantly to the conference’s programming. The college displayed two key exhibits — the WV CARDIAC Project and the Center for ActiveWV — both of which showcased the college’s ongoing commitment to promoting health and wellness across the state.
CAHS faculty and students also led nine presentations, further highlighting the breadth of expertise within the college:
- Teaching Ultimate Frisbee using TGFU
- WV Healthy Schools in Action: Year One Highlights
- Using digital badging to enhance graduate education
- The WV Physical Activity Plan: Collaborative Efforts for a More Active West Virginia
- Strategies for sustainable use of technology in physical education
- Incorporating Physical Activity in the Classroom
- Back Pain and Your Student Athlete
- Geocaching: Modern Day Treasure Hunting
- WV CARDIAC Project Data to promote health and wellness