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As Alexandra Snyder entered West Virginia University, she had visions of becoming a physical or occupational therapist. “After a few months I wasn’t positive if that was the correct path for me, so I began looking into other majors. The health and well-being program began accepting students my sophomore year. I switched to this major because of the many professional opportunities this program offers,” she said. Snyder, from Hollidaysburg, Pa., added a minor in health promotion to her portfolio.

“This major has taught me about people's overall health and how to be effective as a worker in the healthcare setting. Those two things were essential since I have always been interested in health and helping others through community service.”

Two sport management students received first-hand sports business knowledge through the 2022 Presidents Cup, a nationally televised PGA event. Andrew Walker, graduate student, and Justin Violette, undergraduate, traveled to Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C. for the September 22-25 competition. The pair worked for Show Pros Entertainment, Inc., a crowd management and event-oriented staffing company.

Patrick Hairston, sport management teaching assistant professor, says he attempts to associate students with business practitioners and events so they can gain field learning skills and network within the sports industry. “Andrew and Justin both love the game of golf. As I connect with students throughout the semester, I discover their passions. I learned that Andrew and Justin played golf by getting to know them and their interests,” Hairston said.

A passion for influencing children to thrive prompted Amber Nichols to shift gears in her career to become an educator.

Nichols chose the WVU Master of Arts in Teaching program because it supported her goal of becoming a teacher. She says she always knew that she wanted to motivate children. “I thought that was going to be a career in children's broadcasting. However, being a teacher and working with children in my classroom generates a deeper, more meaningful effect on their lives,” she said.

Elementary education graduate Josephine Valentine is one of five West Virginia University alumni selected for a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to teach English or conduct research abroad over the next year while building cross-cultural relationships.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to build community abroad while continuing my work in education,” Valentine, of Shepherdstown, W.Va., said. “Creating a safe space for students to learn is so important to me. I am excited to connect with my students in Spain and their cultures while providing authentic opportunities for them to practice English.”

One of every four children in the United States has a parent wrestling with drug or alcohol addiction, based on national data, and is at risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life.

To begin to break that cycle and give adults in those kids’ lives the tools to make a difference,  West Virginia University’s  Project TRAIN has expanded its program, originally focused on helping K-12 teachers support students affected by addiction, to youth camps statewide.

When it comes to keeping the lines of communication open after a divorce, West Virginia University researchers Jonathon Beckmeyer and Jessica Troilo say you can have far too much of a good thing.

Their study of 708 divorced parents of children under 18 shows that even innocuous chitchat between divorced co-parents can put children’s well-being at risk. Simply put, “limit any communication to shared parenting issues,” the researchers suggest.

The College of Applied Human Sciences, in partnership with the West Virginia University Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness by hosting the 6th Annual Diversity Cup Four vs. Four Coed Soccer Tournament. For more information, to register and view tournament rules visit the College of Applied Human Sciences Diversity Cup webpage.

The tournament, commemorating Diversity Week 2022, is scheduled on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 on the turf fields located between the College of Applied Human Sciences building and the Student Recreation Center on the Evansdale Campus.

The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences at WVU is collaborating with Mountaineer Athletics to host the third annual Youth Sports Day, Saturday, Sept. 10, prior to the Kansas Jayhawks vs. WVU football game. This year’s Youth Sports Day is sponsored by U.S Cellular.

Youth Sports Day serves as an opportunity to provide the community with information about quality youth sport programs, the importance of sport sampling for developing the athletic skills and fitness youth need to participate in sports programs, says Kristen Dieffenbach, professor, coaching and performance science, College of Applied Human Sciences.

The West Virginia University campus is invited to celebrate the inaugural academic year of the College of Applied Human Sciences on Thursday, September 15, 3-5 p.m. at the Evansdale recreation fields. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

The fair will feature free snacks, drinks, games, prizes, music, special guests and more to help commemorate the college’s first semester.

With a new school year underway, three West Virginia University education experts discuss the ongoing challenges of staffing schools, which the president of the National Education Association labeled a “five-alarm crisis.”

Donna Peduto, executive director of West Virginia Public Education Collaborative , has held positions with the West Virginia Board of Education and the state Department of Education, and was the state coordinator for West Virginia's first Innovation Zones Initiative.