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Joshua Root, WVU Athletic Coaching Education graduate, earned a job at DuPont Performance Coatings as the manufacturing technician. Root attributes much of his success to the knowledge he gained as a CPASS student. 

At first glance, Root’s ACE degree may not seem to relate to his new position; however, he uses many aspects of what he learned as a CPASS student.

Former U.S. Secret Service Agent, WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni member and CPASS Outstanding Alumnus Robert DeProspero was featured on the Dr. Connie Mariano Radio Show on Voice America. During the Feb. 7, 2013 interview, Dr. Mariano, who served as former White House doctor, asked DeProspero to share anecdotes from his five-term service with the Secret Service. 

DeProspero was assistant director and special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division. He oversaw the planning, organizing and coordination of the Presidential protection services. Mariano’s interview begins at the 31:50 minute mark. Listen to the interview to learn about details of President Reagan’s shooting, changes in Secret Service policy, and personal stories from his White House years.

Two SEP alumni, Drs. Sean Fitzpatrick and Bart Lerner, will present at the  2013 Performance Psychology Conference at National University’s Spectrum Business Park Campus.The conference will take place Feb. 22-23 and is hosted by The Center for Performance Psychology. Fitzpatrick is scheduled to speak on professional issues with a concentration on the distinctions between exercise psychology and performance psychology. He will also discuss marketability and professional opportunities for individuals in exercise psychology. 

“There seems to be a belief among many professionals that exercise is not a form of performance, a belief that I do not share. Future students need to know not only the importance of exercise, but that it is an area that you can become employed. The conference provides a unique opportunity to have this discussion,” said Fitzpatrick. Lerner will present a segment entitled, “Stress Management Interventions with Nursing Students.” This presentation aims to detail the development and application of stress-management interventions with graduate and undergraduate nursing students as they prepare for their roles in medicine. “I am the academic dean at West Coast University, and I’ve found that a lot of nursing students become nervous and stressed about taking the NCLEX. With my background in sport psychology I can help them relax and stay focused. My training can bridge into nursing and help them perform,” said Lerner.

Michael Funkhouser was named Teacher of the Year for the state of West Virginia for 2013. Funkhouser, 1980 CPASS graduate, started his teaching career as an elementary physical education teacher. In 1984, he begin teaching English at East Hardy High School in Baker, W.Va. As the West Virginia Teacher of the Year, he will travel the country throughout 2013. “I’ve been to Phoenix, St. Louis, Huntsville, Alabama. It’s been a big year so far. It’s really the work of the school why I’m sitting here. It’s nice to give back. I honestly wish every teacher could have this opportunity, and I’m doing what I can to represent every teacher in the state,” said Funkhouser.