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Two CPASS alumni have combined efforts to strengthen physical education in the Canton Public Schools District (Canton, MA). Ryan Gordy was promoted from wellness instructor at Canton high school to K-12 wellness department coordinator for Canton Public School District. The district hired CPASS grad Adam Hughes as his replacement at the high school.

Gordy and Hughes met each other through the Physical Education Teaching Education program at West Virginia University. With similar views on physical education, the two graduates are now working together in Canton on a new PE program to improve student growth throughout the school district and impact the community.

Erika Van Dyke, CPASS sport and exercise psychology doctoral student, received the APA Division 47 Thesis Award at the American Psychological Association Convention. She presented her research project, Exploring Relationships among Self-talk and Balance Beam Performance in Gymnastics, at the APA Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 4-7.

Growing up as a gymnast, the sport became a big part of Van Dyke’s life from a young age through college as an NCAA Division I gymnast. As a high level athlete, Van Dyke incorporated self-talk into her competitive performances and became fascinated by how mental skills influence performance.

Sae-Mi Lee, a fifth year doctoral student beginning this fall, is the 2016 Association for Applied Sport Psychology Student Diversity Award recipient. This award recognizes and honors students who have made important contributions to the field of Sport and Exercise Psychology on issues related to diversity.

“I’m really excited to receive this award. Professionals in the field who also believe diversity is important are encouraging me to keep shedding light to the margins. Promoting equity and social justice is important, especially in sport psychology, because we’re trying to help people and improve their lives.” Lee explained.  

CPASS sport and exercise psychology major junior  Habiba Shaker  is one of four members of the West Virginia University women’s tennis team named ITA Scholar-Athletes. The student-athletes were named to the ITA All-Academic team, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Shaker joins senior  Kaja Mrgole, exercise physiology, and sophomores Paula Goetz , industrial engineering, and  Abigail Rosiello , pre-medicine, who were all recognized by the ITA as Scholar-Athletes for their outstanding work in the classroom. The 2016 season marked the third consecutive year the Mountaineers earned academic team honors.

Kenneth W. Osleger has created a new endowment in support of a scholarship for the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. The Kelly Irene Osleger Endowed Scholarship was established in honor of Osleger’s daughter Kelly. She died of ovarian cancer three years ago at the age of 32.

“Kelly had a bright future that was snatched away from her. I know she would like to see other young students have the opportunity to excel in life,” said Osleger. The endowment will provide scholarships for undergraduate and/or graduate students with a preference to physical education teacher education and athletic training majors. The endowment gift amount to CPASS is $100,000.

Brooke Towner and Cory Breithoff, CPASS graduate students, have been selected to participate in the West Virginia Inaugural Summer Policy Institute 2016. The WV Center on Budget and Policy will host the gathering on the West Virginia Wesleyan College campus, July 29-31.

This program will allow students from accredited universities across the state to come together and learn about critical West Virginia specific policy issues. 

Kibum Cho, a graduate student in the CPASS Coaching and Teaching Studies program, was awarded a 2016 SHAPE America Research Council grant. The Committee selected Cho’s grant proposal titled: Exploring Appalachian Guardians’ Opt-In and Out Decisions of Children School-Based Health Screenings and awarded Cho $2,215 in funding.

The grant recognizes an elite group of students. “This is a competitive process that funds five to six awards to doctoral students nationwide per year,” explained Emily Jones, assistant professor, Physical Education Teacher Education.

Alyxis Harper, SEP undergraduate student, received the Women of WVU Enrichment Fund scholarship on May 27, 2016.

Originally from Ashburn, VA, Harper is currently pursuing a BS degree in sports and exercise psychology, while minoring in strength and conditioning. Harper will graduate in December of this year.

Three projects, two months, one eye-opening opportunity. For Manon Eluère, her overseas internship experience at CPASS this summer will offer partnerships and a new perspective in her academic studies.

A scholar from Rennes, France, Eluère, 22, is studying at the Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences this summer to further her research on sport psychology and coaching education. Eluère is spending seven weeks at CPASS, between June 6 and July 22.

A favorite expression among  West Virginia University alumni are words to live by for a College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate. The sentiment, “Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer,” lands close to the heart for CPASS grad James Higginbotham and has led him to establish a new scholarship for the College.

Higginbotham is quick to credit his experiences as a WVU student as the “best four years of my life. The friends that I made almost 50 years ago in Morgantown remain as my closest companions today,” Higginbotham said.