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Despite barriers and delays caused by COVID-19, partners around the state have found imaginative solutions to empower communities striving to overcome West Virginia’s health-related challenges.

A year ago, the Center for ActiveWV, at the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, set out to empower communities to create opportunities for physical activity through a statewide initiative. Amid a global pandemic, access to physical activity in communities has become a valuable tool to boost immune systems and manage stress.

Undergraduate students within the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will soon have expanded opportunities for online learning. Beginning January 19, 2021, Dana Voelker will serve as the college’s director of undergraduate online education to enhance the college’s online programming.

Voelker will team up with WVU campus partners, including WVU Online and WVU Career Services, along with the CPASS Office of Student Success, to increase the college’s online education efforts.

An ongoing collaboration with the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) and the Human Performance Innovation Center (HPIC), which allows CPASS students to gain practical learning in support of classroom work, has taken another step in growing this unique educational experience and partnership.

Guy Hornsby, assistant professor, Coaching and Performance Science, recently received an adjunct faculty appointment with RNI and the HPIC. "This partnership establishes a more formal relationship between CPASS and RNI HPIC that I believe creates a nice bridge between the two programs. It is particularly attractive for our coaching and performance science students working in the HPIC lab and in sport science roles with WVU athletics,” Hornsby said.

Alfred “Al” F. Ware, a devoted West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences alumnus, died on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the age of 93 after a short illness in Franklin, Tennessee.

Ware, of Rupert, and his late wife, Dolores “Dee” Ware, had an unwavering history of support for CPASS through their wide-ranging philanthropy and leadership roles.

Blake Costalupes is passionate about exploring mindfulness interventions within sport and exercise psychology, focusing on student-athletes’ goals to help them excel.

Costalupes’ research, “A Smartphone Mindfulness-based Intervention Pilot Study with Competitive High School Baseball Players,” was selected for publication of the special student edition of the Journal of Kinesiology and Wellness. 

The next WVU Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences Virtual Town Hall Fall Series is Oct. 29, 12:30 p.m. The discussion will cover ‘Tips and Highlights from a Youth Sport Program Model that Works in WV.’ The focus will explore how a youth sport program can help grow program numbers, increase diversity and inclusion and support youth enjoyment and development.

Using the long-term athletic development (LTAD) concept, presenters will take a look at how the Mountaineer United Soccer Club's pre-academy program aligns with current guidelines and recommendations for best practices in youth sport as well as how they have designed and implemented the program.

A College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences alumnus credits his college mentors and active involvement in extracurricular activities as a student for his ongoing progress in the sports industry. Ryan Stamski, B.S., sport management, May ’20, is currently pursuing a career in player development in Major League Baseball. As he chases his dream career, he reflects on where his passions started. 

His interest in player development surfaced from his internship experience with the West Virginia Black Bears, where he worked closely with the Pirates’ player development staff. Stamski’s love for player development evolved during his student manager position with the West Virginia University baseball team. As an intern with the team, Stamski worked with many talented college athletes while gaining player development technology experience. 

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences’ newest staff member is focused on making learning accessible and engaging for CPASS students. Michele Korgeski, from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, says when she joined the college, she immediately noticed that administration and faculty care and want to help each student thrive.  

“My goal is to provide a consistency in learning, so the student and instructor can focus on the content they are learning and succeed in their studies,” Korgeski said.

This fall, the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Science will support coaches, sport leaders and families in West Virginia through the continuation of their free, online town hall event series. Each event will bring together a unique panel of sport and coaching leaders and experts to explore and discuss important sport science related topics that impact youth and scholastic athletes and sports.

The Center will host these free, live virtual meetings through Zoom on August 27, September 24, October 29, November 19 and December 17. The Center will post registration details for each event on the CACSS website . Recordings from spring events are available through the website.

COVID-19 has caused an upheaval in higher education. Nearly every aspect of academia has needed to reboot, including learning, teaching and anything related to travel. In planning for their fall conference, the National Strength and Conditioning Association is no exception.   

The 2020 Advanced Periodization Virtual Clinic was initially intended, even prior to the pandemic, to operate on a virtual platform, establishing the event as a unique national conference. Once COVID-19 affected travel, NSCA staff decided that, instead of the speakers flying to NSCA headquarters in Colorado Springs to film their presentations, they would send a representative to each of the speakers at their respective institutions.