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In recognition of their exceptional community service, the undergraduate Sport and Exercise Psychology Club has received the Student Organization of the Year award from the Center for Service and Learning. The group was honored at the Excellence in Civic Engagement Award ceremony held on April 15.

“Being involved in community service is one of the core missions of the SEP club. This award recognizes the club and its members for their efforts in giving back to West Virginia University and the Morgantown community,” said Dr. Damien Clement,CPASS associate professor.

College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate students have been immersed in a unique sports marketing experience as interns for the West Virginia Black Bears, a minor league baseball team.

A collaboration between Rich Baseball Operations and the WVU graduate sports management students began in September 2014. Rich Baseball Operations approached CPASS professor Dr. Dallas Branch to partner with his sports marketing class to execute a “Name the Team” fan contest.

A partnership between the United States Tennis Association and West Virginia University will provide valuable training through a conference held on campus this summer. The training will offer lifetime leisure activities to the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences’ Physical Education Teacher Education Master’s degree program.

“This conference is a way of helping teachers add a lifetime activity component to physical education class,” said David Robertson, a CPASS coaching and teaching studies doctoral student. Robertson is coordinating the summer experience.

College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences student Ashley Morgan has been named a 2015 WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior in recognition of her hard work and exceptional achievements throughout her college career.

“I’m thrilled and honored to receive this honor,” said Morgan, a sport and exercise psychology major from Hilliard, Ohio.

After six months of hard work, West Virginia University graduate sports management students were rewarded with a trip to New York to present their research findings. Eleven students in the Sports Marketing Research Methods/Sports Poll class, taught by Dallas Branch, associate professor of sport management at WVU, showcased their work in a presentation for Kantar Media on March 2.

The presentation was a success, with Sports Business Journal deeming the findings from CPASS students worthy of publication in the upcoming edition.  
The project was an opportunity for students to work in conjunction with the advertising and sponsorship company Kantar Media. The students were given access to data from Kantar regarding the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tournament, including media value for sponsors in the tournament as well as college basketball sponsorship awareness and product usage among sponsors.

On March 5, the results of the 2015 West Virginia University Student Government Association elections were officially announced. The election was a clean sweep, with all 19 winners belonging to the Make a Difference (MAD) Movement. Four College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences students with unique platforms for WVU are among the newly elected MAD Movement.

Ashley Morgan, a senior sport and exercise psychology major, was elected as vice president. Having served two terms as athletic councilor, Morgan has a vision forWVU at the student, local, state, and Big 12 level. Creating a student summit is a top priority for Morgan, who believes it is vital for “the voices of student leaders across campus to be heard no matter what their major, club, or organization.”

Preschoolers from a Morgantown daycare are learning through play as they hop, run, throw and laugh in the multipurpose room in the new CPASS building. While the little ones benefit from movement, PETE students gain valuable teaching experience through interaction with the children.

Two years ago, ACE master’s student Shelbie Ann Straughn envisioned creating the first special needs all-star cheerleading team in Morgantown. Through Straughn’s passion to create access for all, the Shining Stars team was born. Today the team is thriving with a complete two and a half minute routine and six competitions under their belt.

The children enrolled in Americorp’s award-winning Energy Express program are not the only ones who benefit greatly from its unique summer curriculum. Kristen Siers, a senior Sport and Exercise Psychology major at West Virginia University, and mentor for the acclaimed program, says the program inspired and encouraged her to take the next steps in her academic career. 

Jennifer Kwiatkowski, physical education and health teacher, recently completed her National Board Certification. The Clay-Batelle High School teacher is now one of fifty-three educators in Monongalia County to hold the National Board Certification Teacher credential.