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CPASS master’s student and instructor Marla Gladstone plans to analyze opposing factors and how they have influenced history and sport by bringing real-life experience into the classroom.

The idea behind PET 101: Games in American culture course is to evaluate and discover how sport has influenced history and how history has influenced sport. Instead of taking stories and examples straight from a textbook, Gladstone’s desired plan of action is to bring different guest speakers into the classroom, to give a more biographical, human perspective.

As the West Virginia University Mountaineer football team opened their 2019-2020 season on August 31 against FCS powerhouse James Madison, fans could feel the excitement in the air. However, even before kick-off, fans were treated to Gold and Blue-style entertainment, with a focus on family fun.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences partnered with WVU Athletics and USA Football to host Youth Sports and Spirit Day during pre-game activities held at the Caperton Indoor Facility, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The festivities took place during the Chick-fil-A Kids Zone event and were organized by Kristen Dieffenbach, athletic coaching education associate professor, with the help of graduate assistants Christina Villalon and Maggie Roberts. They estimate that 150-200 kids took part in event’s first year.

The College recently caught up with CPASS alumni and students, to learn more about their experiences in Major League Baseball. We asked about their typical day, career goals, WVU mentors and advice for anyone wanting to get into the sports industry. See their responses, below, to learn how their Mountaineer experiences have helped them succeed and where they see themselves in five years.  

CPASS is co-hosting Youth Sports and Spirit Day at Mountaineer Field Saturday August 31, at the season opener against JMU, August 31. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and pregame activities will begin at 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Chick-Fil-A Kids Zone in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.

Kristen Dieffenbach, Athletic Coaching Education associate professor, along with graduate assistants, Christina Villalon and Maggie Roberts, will host the youth sports station-based program at the Chick-fil-A Kids Zone. The activity will provide hands on teaching and youth sport experience for PETE/PEK and ACE students. 

The West Virginia University baseball team was center stage this season, advancing to the NCAA regional tournament as announced last May. There were many names swirling around with the success of this team - one of them was Nick Snyder. 

Snyder is a sport management major hailing from Marlton, NJ. Why did he select WVU? The answer is two-fold. 

WVU women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has created a soccer dynasty in Morgantown. However, it is not the winning records nor the titles that have defined her tenure at WVU, but rather the players she has inspired along the way. CPASS graduate student, Bryana McCarthy, is one of those players.

McCarthy, hailing from Ajax, Ontario, Canada, played with the team 10 years ago while earning her undergraduate degree in athletic coaching education.

Body image among young adult female athletes has become a hot topic within the sports exercise psychology industry. Kate Fairhurst, a CPASS Ph.D. candidate, recently received the 2019 Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Research Grant to continue her research on the topic.

This grant, which is awarded to students and professionals, will support the completion of her doctoral dissertation, which involves the application of PhotoVoice approaches to explore young adult female exercisers' experiences of their body and body image while exercising in a fitness center environment.

College faculty, staff and alumni gathered on April 26 to celebrate 2019 CPASS Student Research Day. Students presented forty posters at the 7th annual event, held in the CPASS main lobby, and featured undergraduate and graduate research along with undergraduate and graduate applied categories.

The College recognized the following winners in each of the categories:

Students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate achievements during the College’s 2019 spring awards luncheon, Friday April 26 at the Erickson Alumni Center.

The College recognized student scholarship recipients established by alumni and donors. Faculty received awards for distinguished research, service and teaching dedication. The College honored staff for years of service and Mountaineer Value Coins.  

With graduation right around the corner, several CPASS seniors reflect on their undergraduate time at both WVU and the college. Students from different parts of the world and with various CPASS majors  share their experiences. 

They discuss what they will remember most about WVU, what their degree will allow them to do professionally, what advice they would give their freshman self and how they connected their passion with their major.