Latest News

A number of WVU Physical Education Teacher Education students and faculty attended the West Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance conference on October 20-21. This is the first of a series of stories celebrating their success at the conference.

Obi Atkinson, PETE undergraduate student, won the Bea N. Orr Student Award, presented to outstanding students in the field.

Armand Trotto, athletic coaching education graduate, has earned a sports performance coaching position with Parisi Speed School, at Healthquest in Flemington, NJ. Trotto trains athletes of all ages and sports.

“At Parisi we run classes for groups of athletes ages 7-11 in our Jump Start program. We have classes for our athletes, ages 12-14, in our Total Performance 1. Lastly, we have classes for our athletes who are ages 15 and up called Total Performance 2,” said Trotto. 

Katheleen Amaefule, visiting scholar in sport management and administration from Nigeria, is spending the fall semester at West Virginia University. Amaefule is one of eight visiting scholars on campus, hosted by the West Virginia Council of International Programs. WVCIP, a professional development program, fosters training and work related opportunities with cross-cultural and multidisciplinary dimension.

Amaefule holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in sports science from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a master’s degree in sport management from Ahmadu Bello University. Amaefule is a member of various council and associations.

Raymond Prior will share his research with students and faculty on Thursday October 13, 8 to 10 a.m. in CPASS room 260.

“I was a college student-athlete. I often wondered why certain athletes and people weren't as good as they should be. Despite having all the physical and intellectual ability needed to be successful, many of them were inconsistent at best and they all struggled to perform under pressure,” Prior said.

Terry Jackson, SEP graduate, likes to talk about how running helped change his life.

“After I earned my undergrad degree, I ended up putting a lot into perspective.I felt lousy, physically and mentally; I just needed a change. At the time I didn't have a job lined up so I started running around the block.A half mile became a mile, then I ended up running a 5K and finally a marathon,” he said.

Pursuing his dreams while making an impact. That’s what student, Andre Kowisky has been doing since graduating with a master’s degree from WVU. Kowisky transitioned from CPASS to growing his role as a coach for the Morgantown United Soccer Club in Morgantown, WV.

Kowisky received his bachelor’s degree in physical activities and sport science from Universidade Vila Velha (UVV) located in his hometown of Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil. He then pursued his education in the United States, graduating from CPASS this May with an MS in athletic coaching/performance coaching.

Recent CPASS graduate Zachery Vaji embodies the meaning of determination as a Mountaineer by taking the initiative to make his goals a reality.

Vaji, from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolled at WVU in 2012 and by August, 2015 he had earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management. He continued his education and graduated with a master’s degree in sport management in August 2016.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the WVU Brazilian Student Association, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness during Diversity Week 2016 by sponsoring the   Diversity Cup – Five vs. Five Coed Soccer Tournament.

This tournament will take place on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 on the turf fields located in front of the CPASS building on the Evansdale Campus. Registration is free and open to all WVU undergraduate and graduate students. 

Peter and Linda Zulia have created a new endowment in support of a scholarship for the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. The Peter and Linda Zulia Endowed Scholarship was established to launch opportunities for WVU athletic training students.

“This endowment that Linda and I have created is established in part for what CPASS, and the Athletic Training Program specifically, offered me when I was a student athletic trainer. Quite simply, we are excited to create an opportunity for the benefit of future WVU Athletic Training students so that they can fulfill their dreams,” Zulia explained. The endowment gift amount to CPASS is $25,000.

Elizabeth Janeiro, a sport and exercise psychology student, presented research, in collaboration with Dr. Dana Voelker, as part of her eight week-long summer internship. Janeiro presented her project at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium,in late July at the Erickson Alumni Center.

“Elizabeth and I worked collaboratively on this research project at every stage and we plan to continue our work together by submitting a peer-reviewed manuscript with the results,” said Voelker.