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Terry Jackson, SEP graduate, likes to talk about how running helped change his life.

“After I earned my undergrad degree, I ended up putting a lot into perspective.I felt lousy, physically and mentally; I just needed a change. At the time I didn't have a job lined up so I started running around the block.A half mile became a mile, then I ended up running a 5K and finally a marathon,” he said.

Guy Hornsby, teaching assistant professor, Athletic Coaching Education, serves as the volunteer head coach for West Virginia Weightlifting, a USA Weightlifting registered club and WVU Sport Club. Weightlifting is contested both nationally and internationally. Established competitions include the Pan American Championships and World Championships along with the Summer Olympic Games program.

West Virginia Weightlifting saw two WVU students, Khlaed Almenaies (56kg) and Aaron Snoberger (77kg) competing at the 2016 National University Championships in New Orleans, LA, this September.

Recent CPASS graduate Zachery Vaji embodies the meaning of determination as a Mountaineer by taking the initiative to make his goals a reality.

Vaji, from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolled at WVU in 2012 and by August, 2015 he had earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management. He continued his education and graduated with a master’s degree in sport management in August 2016.

Pursuing his dreams while making an impact. That’s what student, Andre Kowisky has been doing since graduating with a master’s degree from WVU. Kowisky transitioned from CPASS to growing his role as a coach for the Morgantown United Soccer Club in Morgantown, WV.

Kowisky received his bachelor’s degree in physical activities and sport science from Universidade Vila Velha (UVV) located in his hometown of Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil. He then pursued his education in the United States, graduating from CPASS this May with an MS in athletic coaching/performance coaching.

A newly established planned gift from Dr. John and Kacey Gay will create an endowment in support of the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. The Dr. John and Kacey Gay Endowment will support future research and teaching initiatives in the college.

The college will recognize the Gays’ gift in naming the CPASS Research Wall in the couple’s honor. Their gift amount, estimated to be in excess of $2 million, would become the second largest gift currently received by the college. 

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.

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.

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.

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.