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West Virginia University will expand its commitment to innovative education with an active learning classroom that will support instructors and students by creating an environment that encourages engagement, collaboration and creativity.

The classroom in the Health and Education Building, valued at $67,000, will be ready by the Fall 2019 semester and will be a varied, flexible setting designed to facilitate the hands-on experimentation and problem-solving that 21st century learning demands.

Earn Florida open water dive certification through WVU Lifetime Activities. Lifetime Activities is offering a two-day certification for open water diving, the first and final step in an open water certification. Upon successful completion of this course, each student will be ready to open water dive without instructor supervision. The course has a pre-requisite of 200-yard continuous swim and 10-minute rescue float which is administered at the first session. To read more about the course, visit the dive courses pageon the website.

Registration is now open for National Youth Sports Program camp. NYSP provides campers a chance to try and learn new sports and activities, along with teaching the importance of being physically active for their own positive emotional and physical well-being. The program emphasizes being a good sport throughout life. Daily lunch and bus transportation provided.

College faculty, staff and alumni gathered on April 26 to celebrate 2019 CPASS Student Research Day. Students presented forty posters at the 7th annual event, held in the CPASS main lobby, and featured undergraduate and graduate research along with undergraduate and graduate applied categories.

The College recognized the following winners in each of the categories:

Students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate achievements during the College’s 2019 spring awards luncheon, Friday April 26 at the Erickson Alumni Center.

The College recognized student scholarship recipients established by alumni and donors. Faculty received awards for distinguished research, service and teaching dedication. The College honored staff for years of service and Mountaineer Value Coins.  

With graduation right around the corner, several CPASS seniors reflect on their undergraduate time at both WVU and the college. Students from different parts of the world and with various CPASS majors  share their experiences. 

They discuss what they will remember most about WVU, what their degree will allow them to do professionally, what advice they would give their freshman self and how they connected their passion with their major.

Andrea Taliaferro, associate professor, Coaching and Teaching Studies, is one of six West Virginia University faculty members who have been recognized with the University’s 2019 Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award honors exceptional professors who go above and beyond to inspire their students.

Established in 1985 by the WVU Foundation, the Outstanding Teaching Award honors faculty who are particularly effective and inspiring teachers, as well as faculty who have established patterns of exceptional innovation in their teaching methods, course and curriculum design and instructional tools.

As an athlete, there are countless things that can go through the mind while playing a sport. Sports are exhausting both mentally and physically. Sophomore Morgan Phillips chose West Virginia University to study sport and exercise psychology while wanting to compete with the highly successful Mountaineer Rifle team. 

“I chose CPASS because rifle is a very mental sport and I thought sport [exercise] psychology was interesting. It’s really fascinating to learn more about sport psychology and be able to make connections between what I’m learning about in school and what I do athletically,” said Phillips.

Dean  Dana Brooks will retire from the  College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences June 30, 2019, after more than four decades as a passionate Mountaineer committed to promoting diversity and student success at  West Virginia University. Upon Brooks’ retirement, professor of  Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology  and interim associate dean  Jack Watson will serve as interim dean of the College.

Brooks began his WVU career as a graduate teaching assistant in the 1970s. His subsequent positions, which involved progressively increasing leadership responsibilities, included instructor, minority recruitment and retention coordinator, acting graduate coordinator, acting chairperson and associate dean.

The love of sports is often a motivator for many focusing on careers in the sports management industry. Autry Parker Brantley – Detroit, Michigan native – considered a decision between striving to be a college student-athlete or helping them reach their goals.

Brantley received his bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2005 from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. After years of entrepreneurship efforts in Florida and Nevada, coaching college basketball in Ohio, and teaching to coach high school basketball in Michigan, he decided to join the Mountaineer family. He earned his master’s degree in sport management in 2012. 

When most people think of the Virgin Islands they envision clear blue water, white sandy beaches, tropical weather and stunning views. Melisa Efe experienced the Virgin Islands from a different angle.

Efe, sport and exercise psychology major, volunteers with All Hands and Hearts, an organization that helps communities effected by natural disasters. After Hurricane Irma and Maria in 2017, the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered severe flooding, wind damage and was left with mountains of debris. All Hands and Hearts sent a Rapid Response team to help with the damage following the storms. The relief continues. Efe traveled to St John over 2018 winter break to support recovery efforts.

A West Virginia University-hosted event will provide unprecedented access to renowned professionals in the fields of strength and conditioning and sport science. The second annual workshop will feature speakers typically found on national platforms on Saturday, April 13 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center. Attendees will have an exclusive look at the new applied sport science center located at the WVU Human Performance Innovation Center.

“This is an incredible opportunity for coaches and strength coaches in the state and surrounding area. We will truly have some of the world leaders in the field of strength and conditioning and sport science attending and presenting at this year’s state clinic,” Guy Hornsby , WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences athletic coaching education teaching assistant professor, explained.

Finding career motivation comes in different places and times. Paul Downey discovered his vision during a special topics class with a focus on sport psychology.

“Upon learning about sport psychology and student-services, I knew that I wanted to work with top level student-athletes to help them achieve their goals,” said Downey

Kacey DiGiacinto was named to the Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Academy (VCLA) at Elizabeth City State University for fall 2018. Since her appointment, she has helped to engage university faculty in leadership activities across campus, with improvements in academic results.

According to Interim Provost Farrah Ward, the Leadership Academy provides DiGiacinto and co-award recipient Juliet Boykins, with an opportunity to explore their leadership potential and to advance their understanding of interdepartmental collaborations.

As a high school junior, Howard Ticker combined his passion for sports with an interest in business to guide his college selection process. Growing up, he had followed Mountaineer football, paying special attention to the Pat White Era, (former WVU quarterback who played all four seasons, 2005-2008, with the Mountaineers, becoming the first QB to finish 4-0 in bowl games, including two BCS wins in the 2006 Sugar and 2008 Fiesta Bowls).

Meanwhile, he liked the proximity from his home in Maryland to Morgantown. It was then that Ticker decided to attend West Virginia University to study sport management.

A group of 24 College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences students hit the road to Indianapolis, IN for a multifaceted field trip, featuring a panel discussion, professional football practice facility visit hosted by a WVU graduate, and tips for career development. 

The action-packed day, coordinated by the CPASS Office of Student Success and WVU Career Services, started with a tour of the Pacers facility at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.