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CPASS graduate Lindsey Blom was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame. Blom was honored in July for her athletic accomplishments and impact on Georgia Southern University as a student-athlete, coach and supporter.

“I am humbled and a bit in shock still. I enjoy the ability to be active, learn new skills, and work with others; this is why I still play soccer several times a week,” Blom said.

Ashley Morgan, a sports and exercise psychology junior, is one of four students at WVU who has been selected as a candidate for the Truman Scholars Program.

Coach Matt O’Neil, ACE May 2013 graduate, has grown his career in the last six months as the coach of multiple competitive and high school swimming teams in the Cleveland area. O’Neil credits his success to the inspiring lessons the professors at CPASS provided him while earning his degree.

After graduation O’Neil was offered a position as the head swim coach at a country club where he coached 80 kids during multiple practices per day.

Scott Link, current CPASS Sport and Exercise Psychology student, has been competing in Mountaineer Idol for the last three years. In 2011 Link placed 6th place over all, then in 2012 finished 2nd in the competition following Paris Winfrey.  Redemption was a key initiative for competing again in 2012 after his upsetting early exit from the competition in 2011.

“I am naturally a competitive person and want to bring my best to each round of the competition and therefore put a lot of time into it,” said Link. “I wanted to do it again because I had a great experience the first time but went home a lot earlier than I would have liked. I knew that I could have done better and therefore wanted to try again.”

Leigh Alison Bryant, sport and exercise psychology graduate student, was recently elected as the student representative for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

The AASP, founded in 1986, is an organization that promotes the ethical practice and development of science in the field of sports psychology. Bryant assumed the position at the organization’s recent annual conference in New Orleans.

Landon Johnson, a sports management major, has spent the 2013 fall semester interning at University of Maryland under the Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer Kelly Mehrtens. Mehrtens has been working for twenty-three years in the athletics administration. She also serves as the chief liaison to the President’s Office, Vice-President for Administration, Controller’s Office and Legal Affairs. Working with Mehrtens has made this experience rewarding for Johnson, who recently began the sports management program.

“On a daily basis I attend internal operation and leadership meetings, assist with the student-athlete advisory committee’s leadership development program and research different information pertaining to the ACC and The Big 10.”

Army veteran John Housby is the first West Virginia University student to receive the Esther L. Crane Endowed Scholarship for student veterans. Housby was awarded a $1,000 scholarship that will help support his final year at WVU as a CPASS athletic training student. 

The Esther L. Crane Endowed Scholarship is funded by Robert Crane and his wife, Sharon, who established the scholarship in his mother’s name to help support West Virginia’s student veterans. Robert Crane’s inspiration for creating the scholarship was the continuous support his mother provided him with his transition from the military and continuing his education. After nine years of serving in the Army and Army Reserve, Crane earned his bachelor’s and master of business administration degrees.

Tyson Thompson, sport management MS 2010 graduate, was honored by a national tennis magazine for his contributions to the United States Tennis Association. Thompson is the USTA community program and training coordinator in North Carolina. 

Racquet Sports Industry magazine recently released their annual “30 Under Thirty” list recognizing members in the tennis community who are helping the industry grow.

CPASS is honored to announce that Tyler Elvin, senior Sports Management major, has been elected to the 2013 Homecoming Court. Elvin is very active throughout campus participating in the American Red Cross Blood Drive and Trunk or Treat. He is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, currently serving as president this year. Elvin serves on the Greek national board of governors. In the 2012-2013 school year Elvin was named Greek Man of the Year for his outstanding work in the Greek community. Elvin is an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta, College Republicans, Sport Management Club and Ski/Snowboard Club. Homecoming King and Queen will be announced on October 19 at half-time during the WVU football game against Texas Tech.

Michael Jackson, West Virginia University sports management major, recently completed a summer internship with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, a professional baseball team in the Atlantic League, Waldorf, Maryland.

Michael is a fifth year senior at WVU and transferred from Liberty University in 2011 where he played football. Jackson learned in November 2012 that he got the internship.

Michael “Mickey” Bennett credits his education from the College for his success in landing a summer position with the Rec PAC Program in Fairfax County, Virginia. 

“I feel like I have been extremely prepared for my future with so many things the CPASS program has offered me. It goes beyond learning in the classroom,” said Bennett.

Justin Isberg, a 2013 graduate of the Physical Education Teacher Education program, will begin teaching full time at one of North Carolina’s top performing middle schools this month. Isberg interviewed with a variety of schools for physical education/health teacher positions and learned that thanks to the WVU PETE program, he stood out from the other candidates in many ways.

The WVU PETE program focuses on developing students into physical educators and has established itself as a national leader in physical education teacher training. The program has a unique approach to teaching skill analysis and by enabling students to gain hands-on experience; most graduates are generally employed as elementary or secondary health and/or physical education teachers and athletic coaches.

Early this summer, three CPASS undergraduate students and one faculty member joined 27 other students and faculty on a 10-day trip to Canada. This was the fifth version of the state-sponsored trip to L’Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada. 

>Established in 2009, the program, sponsored by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, is a joint initiative of three major state universities: West Virginia University, Marshall University, and West Virginia State University, and one Canadian university – L’Université Laval. The program provides students with an inexpensive opportunity to engage in a firsthand experience of a foreign culture and language. 

An article written by third year PETE masters cohort teacher, Tyler Cathcart, is featured in the 2013 summer edition of The Pulse, an on line newsletter published by aahperd.org. Tyler tells the story of The Education Center at The Watson Institute in Sewickley, PA where he teaches. The Education Center serves children between the ages of three and 21 who have various disabilities.

Tyler, who will graduate this month, explains that The Center has participated in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart for the past decade. He says that although students deal with their own challenges, the lessons that they learn from actively participating in these fundraisers encourage them to lead healthier lifestyles. 

Over the years, the College has seen thousands of students graduate and begin their careers. The school wishes success for their graduates and hopes each student’s experience at WVU was inspiring. A few graduates have reached out to the College to talk about where they are now.

Brad Haas is a 2010 graduate of the College. He earned his BSPE with a focus in sport and exercise psychology. His initial years at WVU led him to pursue a graduate degree in law. Having recently graduated from Case Western University he is now an associate at a law firm in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His undergraduate studies heavily influenced his career focus. He tells us that he plans to focus in sports related law. Brad has offered to share information about his post-WVU years and answer any questions students may have relating to law school, sports agents, lawyers, etc.