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Zenzi Huysmans, sport and exercise psychology PhD student, recently received the Association for Applied Sport Psychology Student Diversity Conference Travel Grant. Huysmans, from Swaziland, a small country in South East Africa, is excited about the opportunity.

The grant provides racially and ethnically diverse students, with a developing interest in sport and exercise psychology, the chance to learn more about the field, develop professional connection within AASP, and also attend the annual conference in October.

Ashley Morgan, BS Sports and Exercise Psychology 2015, wanted to put her degree to good use. Once she explored her options she discovered an interest in public administration. CPASS faculty guided Morgan through her decisions to make the next step in her career.

“After a long conversation with Dr. Zizzi, he had me thinking that there might be another program out there,” Morgan said. “This is when he introduced the public administration Master’s program to me.” After meeting with several faculty members about the program, Morgan decided this was the track for her.

Matt Oelbaum remembers the lessons learned in the classroom at WVU. Not just academic knowledge, but the life lessons his teachers shared. Earlier this fall he was awarded an Emmy for his show “MLB Tonight.” He credits his professors in contributing to his accomplishments.

Oelbaum’s teacher and mentor, Dr. Floyd Jones, associate professor, sport management, motivated him and his classmates to think through their goals. Jones urged the students to develop steps and a plan to reach their ultimate objective. With this encouragement, Oelbaum set his sights on earning an Emmy.

Practical experience learned as the head coach of WVU club baseball, along with advice from faculty mentors, has helped an athletic coaching education graduate land a job in North Dakota. Jeff Pierce graduated this May with an emphasis in strength conditioning.

In early August 2015 he received a call from Williston State in Williston, ND to become the new assistant baseball coach and strength conditioning coordinator in the athletic department.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Brazilian Student Association at WVU, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness during Diversity Week 2015 by sponsoring the Diversity Cup – Five vs. Five Coed Soccer Tournament.

This tournament will take place on Sunday, September 27 and Monday, September 28 on the recreational grass fields located in front of the CPASS building and Towers on the Evansdale Campus. Registration is free and open to all WVU undergraduate and graduate students.  Click here to register

A position as a graduate assistant has led an ACE alum to a permanent role with the WVU Men’s basketball team. Jay Kuntz spent seven years with the WVU basketball program and has recently accepted the coordinator of player development position. Kuntz graduated in 2014 with a master’s degree in athletic coaching education.

Kuntz continued his career as a graduate assistant with the Mountaineer basketball team, even after earning his degree, with Coach Huggins serving as his mentor.

What started as a class project has expanded a CPASS graduate’s efforts in helping young athletes to excel.

Ethan Brown, a May 2015 B.S., Athletic Coaching Education graduate, developed sport-specific instruction related to skill techniques to help players succeed. He had to first convince the athletes’ parents to support the training, though.

A CPASS Athletic Coaching Education graduate has created a workout facility that offers area residents the same personal strength training that college, professional and Olympic athletes experience.

Viking Performance Training founder Jerry Handley’s interest in physical training was never tied to his participation in a sport, instead, he became intrigued by the science and passion that establishes the drive to succeed. According to Handley, a former West Virginia University conditioning coach, this makes Morgantown-based VPT unique to other gyms and weight lifting facilities.

Remarkable effort and determination have paid dividends for two College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences students. Nicole Young and Elizabeth Janeiro were chosen for the 2015 class of McNair Scholars as members of an elite program that began at WVU in 1999.

A federally-funded TRIO program, McNair Scholars helps high-achieving first-generation and underrepresented students prepare for graduate school. McNair Scholars serves students through financial assistance, academic guidance and counseling and undergraduate research opportunities.

A team of students at Fairmont State University, led by CPASS grad Dr. Amy Sidwell, was one of ten nationwide winners of the 2014 Ford Community College Challenge. The students’ plan, titled ‘Bridging the Gap: Sustainable Nutrition through Community Revitalization,” stems from sharing knowledge and creating a partnership between Fairmont State University, advisors and the community.

Each winning team was awarded a grant of $25,000 to support their work. The Bridging the Gap project reclaimed tennis courts that were no longer in use and turned them into the Fairmont Community Garden.  Dr. Amy Sidwell, assistant professor, Health and Physical Education, FSU, created the project along with her students.