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Zenzi Huysmans, sport and exercise psychology doctoral student, has received the American Psychological Association Division 47 Thesis award for her thesis titled ‘A preliminary exploration of the application of self-compassion within the context of sports injury.’

Huysmans is a third-year international student from Swaziland, a small country in Southern Africa.  She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and completed her masters in SEP at WVU in May 2016.

From humble beginnings as an agricultural college in 1867, West Virginia University has become a premier research institution with a focus on world-changing innovations that are making a lasting impact in the fields that matter most. During the past 150 years, WVU has been committed to educating and training future leaders, conducting groundbreaking research and performing public outreach and service.

As West Virginia University reflects on 150 years of accomplishments, join the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences on April 17, 2017, 2 p.m. in the CPASS main lobby as the college kicks off a week of celebration. The 150th Anniversary CPASS Birthday Bash will commemorate the college’s history and notable alumni along with free treats including cookies, cupcakes and festive giveaways. Special guests will include the WVU Mountaineer, local CPASS graduates and Olympic medalists.  Dean’s Advisory Board students will host an online auction fundraiser during the reception.

Dallas Branch, WVU sport management associate professor emeritus, will receive the 2017 Academic Achievement in Sport and Entertainment Award from Sport Entertainment and Venues Tomorrow (SEVT), in recognition of his contributions to the sport management and marketing fields. Branch will receive the award during the upcoming SEVT Conference in Columbia, SC on March 23, 2017.

Branch felt both honored and overwhelmed when the organization contacted him with the news. “Previous recipients of this award represent the icons and legends in our sport management and administration discipline. They are among the founding fathers and distinguished leaders in the field. To be recognized with this group as a recipient is truly an honor and also very humbling,” Branch explained.

Performance psychologist Sam Maniar, Ph.D., will visit campus on March 17, 2017 at 12 p.m., CPASS room G08, to speak about the ethical challenges to consultation in professional sports. The CPASS Russell “Bud” Bolton Center for Sport Ethics will host the event, which is free and open to the public.

Maniar, WVU Counseling Psychology doctoral graduate, has extensive experience working with teams, athletes and executives, from a wide range of sports and industries, about achieving performance goals.

Bobby Waugh, elementary physical education teacher and unified bocce coach, spent time on Capitol Hill this month speaking to members of Congress and advocating for the Special Olympics and unified sports.

Waugh, PETE master’s graduate, strives to improve the lives of students with special needs and create partnerships for athletes through the power of inclusion. Unified bocce pairs students with and without special needs, allowing students to earn a high school letter and form bonds practicing and competing together.

West Virginia University is hosting a National Eating Disorder Awareness walk for the first time in the state of West Virginia. The NEDA walk, which will help raise funds and awareness for individuals struggling with eating disorders, will kick off national eating disorder awareness week on Sunday, February 26 at the Student Recreation Center. Check in time is at 11 a.m.; the event is free and open to the public.

Audrey Gunther, walk coordinator, works with the student organization WVU Project Heal to focus on fighting the stigma on eating disorders across campus and the state of West Virginia. “Project Heal is an international non-profit organization that has similar goals with NEDA. Like NEDA, Project Heal works to destigmatize eating disorders, raise awareness and fundraise for treatment,” Gunther said.

An upcoming WVU Science on Tap presentation will feature Sam Zizzi, professor, CPASS Sport and Exercise Psychology, Wednesday, March 15, 7 p.m. at the Morgantown Brewing Company.

Zizzi will focus on The Zen of Sport Performance, featuring how mindfulness supports improved athletic performance. Zizzi has worked with athletes at many levels and will share a selection of stories over a cold brew.

Vincent Stilger, WVU athletic training program director, HSD, ATC has earned the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) 2017 Service Award. The Athletic Trainer Service Award (ATSA) recognizes NATA members for contributions as a volunteer at the local and state levels. 

Stilger has served as the WVU undergraduate athletic training program director and associate professor at CPASS since 1994. He helps during the fall season with the WVU football team as an athletic trainer. Stilger is a Board of Certification Athletic Trainer and a member of NATA, WVATA. Stilger earned his Master of Science and bachelor’s degrees from Indiana State University  

The College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences Dean’s Student Advisory Board has recently recognized Nick Davidson, sport management graduate student, as the most valuable board member for the month of January. Davidson currently serves as the programming chair for the board.

The programming committee seeks to increase cross-disciplinary communications and events within the college. As head of this committee, Davidson’s current focus is finding ways to get CPASS students involved with the college beyond the classroom.

CPASS will host Shellie Pfohl, president and CEO of SafeSport, March 31, 2017 at 12 p.m. in CPASS room G08. The virtual guest lecture featuring SafeSport’s leadership plan for ethical responsibility in sport is hosted by the CPASS Russell “Bud” Bolton Center for Sports Ethics. The talk is free and open to the public.

Pfohl has worked as executive director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition after being appointed by President Obama in 2010. Pfohl also led the council’s efforts in support of support First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative, working to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within the United States.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences athletic  coaching education program has partnered with West Virginia University Club Sports for the third year in a row. This unique arrangement allows graduate assistant strength coaches to provide physical training to sports club participants. Both ACE students and club sports athletes have benefited from the collaboration. 

Prior to this program, a lack of resources left club teams to provide their own strength and conditioning training. Athletes receive a higher level of coaching originally only offered to competitive teams.

Three West Virginia University faculty members have been recognized for outstanding leadership and research.  Emily Jones, associate professor, CPASS, has been awarded the Mabel Lee Award from the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America), presented to only one professional at the university level each year.

Sport and Exercise Psychology students have chalked up an impressive set of accomplishments during the past six months. Students have submitted, and some successfully published, manuscripts, chapters and articles in a variety of publications, including the Oxford University Press, Routledge/Psychology Press,  Kinesiology Review and The Sport Psychologist.  

Featured SEP grad students include:  RobertHilliard,  Tammy Sheehy,  Leigh Bryant Skvarla,  Megan Byrd,  Stefanee Van Horn,  Erika Van Dyke,  Zenzi Huysmans,  Jonathan Stewart and  William Way.

The West Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance ( WVAHPERD), the state’s professional organization representing physical and health education teachers and those in related fields, has honored three CPASS professionals for their research and dedication to physical activity and health as some of the state’s most dedicated educators.  

Sean Bulger, associate professor, received the Ray O. Duncan Award. Bulger previously accepted the WVAHPERD Honor Award, as required to be considered for this most prestigious award within the organization. Bulger was selected for providing exemplary service to the Association and the profession.  

Sign up for Mountaineer Quest, an outdoor-based orientation program designed exclusively for incoming College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (CPASS) students. This five-day summer program helps incoming first-year students make friends, explore area outdoor destinations and learn more about WVU and their major before the start of the fall semester. The program is co-hosted by Adventure WV and CPASS.

This camp-based, peer-led five-day program prepares incoming students for life at WVU and the state. Based at Camp Muffly, a few miles south of Morgantown, students will participate in adventure day trips around the region, including rock climbing, inflatable kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking and service. Students will explore and reflect on their transition to college within small group discussions in the evenings.