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West Virginians are invited to celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, by joining outdoor activities at state parks across the Mountain State.

Events will be held at state parks across West Virginia and include guided hikes, naturalist-led tours, paddling excursions, and conservation projects designed to highlight the state’s public lands and encourage outdoor recreation.

When Jade Stark arrived at West Virginia University, she initially planned to study nursing. But after taking her first Health and Well-Being classes, she found a better fit in patient care. The Manassas, Va., native built hands-on experience as an MRI Tech Assistant at Ruby Memorial Hospital, where she overcame her nerves, mastered skills like administering IVs, and discovered how rewarding it is to help patients heal. Stark says her time in the program and at WVU has given her a clear path forward in healthcare and a strong sense of community in the College of Applied Human Sciences.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved funding for the third year of the West Virginia Healthy Schools in Action initiative, supporting efforts to create healthier learning environments across the state.

“This continued CDC funding allows us to expand Healthy Schools in Action statewide and build on the success in Mercer County to help schools turn wellness policies into everyday practices that improve the health of students and staff across West Virginia,” said Eloise Elliott, director of the Center for ActiveWV.

Keenan Coley threw all of his basketball gear into the closet and slammed the door shut. He couldn't stand the sight of it. The 19-year-old had just returned from California, where his college basketball career at Warren Wilson College ended on a court in Santa Cruz. His final play was fitting: a contested shot and another injury. The injury served as yet another reminder that his desire to continue in the sport he’d loved since he was five far exceeded what his body could endure.

"I was like, it'll be forever if you're waiting for me to coach," Coley told his mother, who suggested he might find his way back to basketball someday. "It's never going to happen."

The West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences has announced that its Coaching and Performance Science undergraduate program has received accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education.

The formal announcement was made in July at the annual National Strength and Conditioning Association conference in Kansas City, Mo.

A recent feature in WVU Magazine highlights the WVU Men’s Soccer Team’s mentoring program at Brookhaven Elementary, where players teach soccer skills and serve as role models for young students. The story illustrates the intersection of education and sport central to our mission at the College of Applied Human Sciences. Brookhaven Principal Sara Kane credits the WVU School of Education for helping make the program a success — one that promotes physical activity, life skills, and college-going aspirations.

Active Southern West Virginia (Active SWV), in partnership with the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan, is launching a new statewide initiative: Move More with Active SWV: How Do You Measure Your Mountaineer Mile? The six-week virtual challenge begins on Monday, June 9, and encourages West Virginians to discover and expand their daily physical activity, no matter their current fitness level or preferred type of movement.

The campaign invites both individuals and organizations to commit to moving more over six weeks.

Allan Johnson, a graduate of West Virginia University’s sport management master's program, received one of the highest honors in the profession by being inducted into the Legends in the Field Strength and Conditioning Hall of Fame at the 2025 CSCCa National Conference in Indianapolis.

A native of Parkersburg, W.Va., Johnson has spent more than 35 years advancing strength and conditioning practices across high school, collegiate, and professional sports. His career includes influential roles with WVU, Ohio State, Northwestern, East Tennessee State, and the Baltimore Orioles. He has coached more than 150 professional draft picks and contributed to multiple national championships and undefeated seasons.

West Virginia University baseball head coach Steve Sabins and Director of the School of Sports Sciences Dana Voelker have announced the addition of Courtney Semkewyc as a Biomechanist and Service Assistant Professor, a role that connects the School of Sport Sciences and the Baseball Biomechanics and Performance Center. Semkewyc will lead the center's daily operations while contributing to teaching, research, and outreach in sport biomechanics and related areas.

The College of Applied Human Sciences will celebrate commencement on Sunday, May 18, at 9 a.m. at the WVU Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the College who will earn their degrees this weekend.

Hope Wright combined her passion for education and music through field experience and performances with “The Pride of West Virginia.” Chloe Hardesty, inspired by her family’s legacy in education, logged more than 900 hours in local classrooms and will now teach while pursuing a master’s degree.