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A newly created endowment in support of the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will focus on community-engaged research to advance the health, wellness and physical activity of West Virginia’s adult population. 

The inaugural Dr. Pat Fehl Endowed Professor was awarded to Sam Zizzi, professor, CPASS Sport and Exercise Psychology program, to support research and health promotion initiatives aimed at improving the health of West Virginians.

An expert in exercise physiology, physical activity and fitness, Dr. Steven Blair will speak at West Virginia University about physical inactivity and why it poses a massive health risk.

Blair will present to WVU faculty and students on Wednesday, October 19 at 3 p.m. in room G-08 of the College and Physical Activities and Sport Sciences building. The presentation, titled “Physical Inactivity: The Biggest Public Health Problem of the 21st Century,” is free and open to the public.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the WVU Brazilian Student Association, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness during Diversity Week 2016 by sponsoring the   Diversity Cup – Five vs. Five Coed Soccer Tournament.

This tournament will take place on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 on the turf fields located in front of the CPASS building on the Evansdale Campus. Registration is free and open to all WVU undergraduate and graduate students. 

Janaina Fogaca, CPASS doctorate student, has received a grant from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. 

Fogaca’s research focus is supervision in applied sport psychology. “I am trying to find out what approaches to supervision are being currently used and how they relate to service-delivery competence in beginning supervisees. Supervision is one way of making sure that the new professionals getting into the field are competent to work with clients. However, it is a topic that is not well researched and none of the associations of sport psychology provide official guidelines to supervision,” Fogaca said.

A WVU CPASS program that aims to increase physical activity for students in McDowell County will kick off a new wellness challenge that will help McDowell County families lead healthy lifestyles.  

The Fit Family Challenge, a no-cost six-week program, will kick off at River View High School during the “Battle of the Views” football game, August 26. Families can register for the program online or at the 5K Color Run/Walk, August 27 at Mount View High School from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Peter and Linda Zulia have created a new endowment in support of a scholarship for the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. The Peter and Linda Zulia Endowed Scholarship was established to launch opportunities for WVU athletic training students.

“This endowment that Linda and I have created is established in part for what CPASS, and the Athletic Training Program specifically, offered me when I was a student athletic trainer. Quite simply, we are excited to create an opportunity for the benefit of future WVU Athletic Training students so that they can fulfill their dreams,” Zulia explained. The endowment gift amount to CPASS is $25,000.

Like many other CPASS alumni, Takahiro Mori has found success. Last year, Mori returned to his home country of Japan to work as an assistant coach/skill coach for a professional basketball team, Alvark Tokyo. Mori, athletic coaching education master’s graduate (May, 2015) worked for the WVU men’s basketball team as a student manager. 

He feels that his experiences at WVU, both inside and outside of the ACE master’s program, prepared him to succeed as a professional basketball coach Entering his second year with the team,he improves players’ skills for the offense and defense systems. During the off-season, Mori trains each player through individual workout sessions. As an assistant coach during the season, Mori scouts for future players, provides feedback and holds skill sessions during practices.

Elizabeth Janeiro, a sport and exercise psychology student, presented research, in collaboration with Dr. Dana Voelker, as part of her eight week-long summer internship. Janeiro presented her project at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium,in late July at the Erickson Alumni Center.

“Elizabeth and I worked collaboratively on this research project at every stage and we plan to continue our work together by submitting a peer-reviewed manuscript with the results,” said Voelker.

Two CPASS alumni have combined efforts to strengthen physical education in the Canton Public Schools District (Canton, MA). Ryan Gordy was promoted from wellness instructor at Canton high school to K-12 wellness department coordinator for Canton Public School District. The district hired CPASS grad Adam Hughes as his replacement at the high school.

Gordy and Hughes met each other through the Physical Education Teaching Education program at West Virginia University. With similar views on physical education, the two graduates are now working together in Canton on a new PE program to improve student growth throughout the school district and impact the community.

Sae-Mi Lee, a fifth year doctoral student beginning this fall, is the 2016 Association for Applied Sport Psychology Student Diversity Award recipient. This award recognizes and honors students who have made important contributions to the field of Sport and Exercise Psychology on issues related to diversity.

“I’m really excited to receive this award. Professionals in the field who also believe diversity is important are encouraging me to keep shedding light to the margins. Promoting equity and social justice is important, especially in sport psychology, because we’re trying to help people and improve their lives.” Lee explained.  

Erika Van Dyke, CPASS sport and exercise psychology doctoral student, received the APA Division 47 Thesis Award at the American Psychological Association Convention. She presented her research project, Exploring Relationships among Self-talk and Balance Beam Performance in Gymnastics, at the APA Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 4-7.

Growing up as a gymnast, the sport became a big part of Van Dyke’s life from a young age through college as an NCAA Division I gymnast. As a high level athlete, Van Dyke incorporated self-talk into her competitive performances and became fascinated by how mental skills influence performance.

CPASS sport and exercise psychology major junior  Habiba Shaker  is one of four members of the West Virginia University women’s tennis team named ITA Scholar-Athletes. The student-athletes were named to the ITA All-Academic team, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Shaker joins senior  Kaja Mrgole, exercise physiology, and sophomores Paula Goetz , industrial engineering, and  Abigail Rosiello , pre-medicine, who were all recognized by the ITA as Scholar-Athletes for their outstanding work in the classroom. The 2016 season marked the third consecutive year the Mountaineers earned academic team honors.

A multi-team collaboration in elementary schools around the state has earned a first-in-the-nation achievement, according to the West Virginia Department of Education. A West Virginia University team played a critical role in the effort.

All 441 West Virginia public elementary schools have joined the Let’s Move! Active Schools Program, a national movement to help schools provide 60 minutes of physical activity a day.  

A West Virginia University alumnus has received a national award for his work as a high school social studies teacher. It took a twist in professions for Phil Caskey to discover his new passion – teaching – where he excels.

A three-time WVU degree holder and current University High School (Morgantown, W.Va.) social studies educator, Caskey was named the 2016 Civil War Trust National Teacher of the Year. He was honored in July at the Trust’s Summer Teacher’s Institute in Richmond, Va.

Kenneth W. Osleger has created a new endowment in support of a scholarship for the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. The Kelly Irene Osleger Endowed Scholarship was established in honor of Osleger’s daughter Kelly. She died of ovarian cancer three years ago at the age of 32.

“Kelly had a bright future that was snatched away from her. I know she would like to see other young students have the opportunity to excel in life,” said Osleger. The endowment will provide scholarships for undergraduate and/or graduate students with a preference to physical education teacher education and athletic training majors. The endowment gift amount to CPASS is $100,000.