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Ryan Turek, a junior at West Virginia University majoring in sport management, is experiencing what most baseball fans only dream of – working during the Major League Baseball Playoffs. With the Cleveland Guardians hosting the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the playoffs, Turek, originally from Mayfield Heights, Ohio, was in the thick of it all as a ballpark runner, making sure operations behind the scenes run smoothly.

Turek’s path to this moment began in high school when he decided to pursue a summer job with the Cleveland Guardians.

Kelsey Kinnamon, a 2019 graduate of West Virginia University, is being recognized at the upcoming 2024 Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Kinnamon has been awarded the prestigious AASP Student Abstract Award, which is presented to outstanding student researchers. The award is part of the AASP Foundation’s initiative to support students attending the conference, providing Kinnamon with the opportunity to present her research in front of leading professionals in her field.

Kinnamon’s research, titled “Disrupting the Norm: Planned Disruption Use Among Elite Olympic Weightlifting Coaches,” explores an innovative approach to pressure training in Olympic weightlifting. Alongside co-researcher Billy Bean, Kinnamon conducted interviews with elite-level weightlifting coaches to understand their use of planned disruptions as a training technique. These planned disruptions simulate the high-pressure environments athletes face when competing internationally. Weightlifters often train in familiar settings but must perform at their peak in unpredictable environments, sometimes with little time to adjust. Kinnamon’s research offers valuable insights into how coaches can better prepare athletes for these challenges, ensuring they are mentally equipped to excel under pressure.

When Alexander Neukam arrived at West Virginia University, he wasn’t entirely sure what path he would take. Like many students, he came in undecided, exploring his options and finding his footing. It wasn’t until a summer conversation after his freshman year with his grandparents, both nurses, that he realized his calling lay in health and well-being.

The Center for ActiveWV was recently recognized for its commitment to healthier communities across the state at the 2024 Celebrating Healthy West Virginia Awards. The Center for ActiveWV, housed in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, was one of 42 organizations acknowledged for its positive health initiatives during a ceremony at Glade Springs Resort.

The award highlights the Center’s ongoing efforts to increase physical activity levels among West Virginians, in alignment with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. By fostering statewide collaboration, supporting research, and guiding policy, the Center for ActiveWV aims to improve the health and quality of life for all residents.

Stephanie Martin, a West Virginia University alumna and seasoned development professional, has been named the Director of Development for the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences. In addition to her knowledge and experience in fundraising, alumni relations, and donor stewardship, Martin brings familiarity and passion to the mission of CAHS.

Martin began her career at WVU in 2013 as a Mountaineer Temp in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. She took on increasing responsibilities over the next five years and became the Dean’s Office Administrator in 2018, where she played a key role in annual giving, fundraising, and coordinating major events like the Hall of Fame and Visiting Committee meetings. Additionally, she earned her Regents Bachelor of Arts degree in May 2020, with minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and Infant and Toddler Studies.

Following a wave of threats made at nearly 50 West Virginia school sites and many others in states including Pennsylvania and Kentucky, WVU Professor Jeff Daniels says every threat must be taken seriously and outlined a course of action for threat assessment teams to take.

A researcher at West Virginia University is working to prevent risky behaviors like sexting and self-harm in rural youth. With $343,719 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding, assistant professor Kristine Ramsay-Seaner, a counseling expert at the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, will oversee the development of trainings and other resources to support professionals who work with youth in rural communities across the United States, in collaboration with the University of Georgia, South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University.

The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences at WVU is collaborating with Mountaineer Athletics to serve as host of the fourth annual Youth Sports Day at the Capterton Indoor Practice Facility, on Saturday, Sept. 7, when the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Albany Great Danes. Youth Sports Day is proudly sponsored by UScellular.

The West Virginia University campus is invited to celebrate the start of the academic year with the College of Applied Human Sciences on Friday, August 23, 3-5 p.m. at the Evansdale recreation fields. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

The fair will feature free hot dogs, snacks, drinks, Kona Ice, games, prizes, music, and more. Students will be able to meet college faculty and staff, including a meet and greet with Dean Autumn Cyprès, and learn more about various clubs and organizations on campus. 

In an effort to continue to foster a positive and enriching sports culture in its schools, the Monongalia County Board of Education has announced a partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance.

The partnership provides comprehensive workshops, resources, and training sessions tailored for coaches, student-athletes, and parents in the Monongalia County Schools system. All fees as part of the agreement are being paid for by the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences Positive Coaching/Sport Parenting fund. The funding underscores WVU’s commitment to the holistic development of young athletes in educational settings.