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After working summer camps with kids, Tyler Derkotch knew it was what he wanted to do for a living. At WVU, he found that the physical education and kinesiology program offered the kinds of hands-on learning he enjoyed in a field he was passionate about. Working at a daycare in Morgantown has only strengthened his conviction to work with children as a physical education teacher.

West Virginia University’s Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology program has partnered with local organizations to launch a martial arts program for individuals with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities. (FULL PHOTO GALLERY)

Jeanette Garcia joined WVU’s College of Applied Human Sciences in the School of Sport Sciences in August 2023. Prior to coming to Morgantown, she was at the University of Central Florida where her research focused on developing community-based for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, primarily those with autism.

Peter McGahey, teaching assistant professor at West Virginia University, has been named as an assistant coach for the United States Power Soccer National Team. He is one of two assistants under the direction of head coach Tracy Mayer.

McGahey’s appointment is for the next World Cup cycle. The next World Cup is in 2026 in Argentina. The United States is coming off a third-place finish in the 2023 World Cup in Australia.

The College of Applied Human Sciences celebrate Commencement on Saturday, December 16, at 2 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the College who will be earning their degree this weekend.  

Isaac Bond is a West Virginia native who maximized his time in the sport management program by utilizing in-person and online classes in order to work during his time at school. Katie Merrill, one of the first graduates of the mental health and addiction studies program on Saturday, credits the faculty for their personal investment into her success. 

Anthony Richards II, a junior at West Virginia University from Washington, D.C., shares his passion for promoting holistic health, the impactful experiences and professors in the program, and the valuable practical exposure he's gained through internships and teaching. From managing challenges in his academic journey to his career aspirations, Richards discusses the diverse opportunities and supportive community that define the WVU experience.

Major: Physical Education and Kinesiology

With a focus on educating students for industries of the future, West Virginia University is now offering an esports bachelor’s degree, preparing students for careers in the rapidly growing esports industry while building on the University’s already successful competitive esports program.

Justin Grimes, a first-year student from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is among the first students to begin pursuing the Esports Business and Entertainment major.

Students and families from the WVU Nursery School joined the School of Sport Sciences and the Center for ActiveWV for a night of physical literacy on Thursday, Nov. 2, as part of a collaborative effort in the College of Applied Human Sciences.

>> PHOTO GALLERY | PHYSICAL LITERACY HANDOUT (PDF) <<

The WVU School of Sport Sciences, as part of its continued relationship with the Positive Coaching Alliance, will host a virtual workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 7-8:30 p.m., entitled "Double-Goal Coach: Coaching for Winning and Life Lessons."

The workshop is available to both campus and community members involved with coaching sports at the youth level. Those interested can RSVP here.

Despite growing up in Morgantown with West Virginia University as a constant presence in her life, it wasn’t necessarily a foregone conclusion that Alex Watson would end up a Mountaineer. However, after considering a lifetime immersed on the campus where both her parents were faculty members and the academic opportunities with WVU, the decision ended up being pretty simple.

“I grew up right here,” she says. “For my entire life, my parents, neighbors and many of the people I knew worked at WVU. Through that, I was able to get involved with a lot of things. For example, my neighbor was a neurologist at WVU, and one of my first memories was going to her lab and participating in her studies. And then when I got to high school, I was given the opportunity to go to Honduras with the School of Nursing to volunteer and give free medical care. On top of that, I was able to go to Mexico with faculty from (then) CPASS to teach leadership to young females through soccer. Those last two trips happened right when I was in the decision-making process, and I think that solidified that I didn’t want to go far and that everything that I needed was at WVU.”

For many students, summer break means a break from the rigors of academia. But the past two summers have been anything but ordinary for Elizabeth Deering, a freshman majoring in Sport Management. Her summers have been marked by adventure, nature, and a transition from being a camper to a counselor at Camp Hidden Meadows in Bartow, W.Va.

Major: Sport Management (M.S.)

The College of Applied Human Sciences, in partnership with the Sport Management program, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness by hosting the 7th Annual Diversity Cup Four vs. Four Coed Soccer Tournament. For more information, to register and view tournament rules visit the College of Applied Human Sciences Diversity Cup webpage.

The pool play tournament is scheduled on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 on the turf fields located between the Applied Human Sciences Building and the Student Recreation Center on the Evansdale Campus.

As West Virginia’s childhood obesity rates continue to rank among the highest in the nation, groups at West Virginia University are taking decisive action to encourage physical activity and healthy eating through the West Virginia Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities (CARDIAC) Project.

CARDIAC school-based screenings performed in 26 West Virginia counties during the 2022–23 school year found 32 percent of kindergarteners, 40 percent of second graders and 49.6 percent of fifth graders were either overweight or obese (according to Centers for Disease Control parameters). Evidence for the risk of pre-diabetes was found in 3.2 percent of kindergarteners, 5.6 percent of second graders and 8 percent of fifth graders.

The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences at WVU is collaborating with Mountaineer Athletics to host the fourth annual Youth Sports Day, Saturday, Sept. 9, as the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Duquesne Dukes. Youth Sports Day is proudly sponsored by UScellular.

Youth Sports Day serves as an opportunity to provide the community with information about quality youth sport programs, the importance of sport sampling for developing the athletic skills and fitness youth need to participate in sports programs, Kristen Dieffenbach, professor of coaching and performance science in the College of Applied Human Sciences said.

"We are focused on encouraging lifetime engagement in sport and recreation activities," Dieffenbach added. "The Youth Sport Day provides WVU students studying coaching and sport sciences with an opportunity to engage with kids and families in the community and share best practices in supporting youth sport engagement," Dieffenbach added.

"We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting, local community event helping support skill development and promote physical activity," Nakeita Stewart, director of sales for UScellular, said.

All Youth Sports Day participants will receive discounted game tickets along with group seating to experience the excitement together. Tickets start at $40 each. The first 500 kids to sign up will receive an exclusive WVU Youth Sports Day T-Shirt courtesy of UScellular.

Youth athletes will receive an invitation to join in exclusive pregame activities in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility, adjacent to the southwest gate of Milan Puskar Stadium. Coaches, family and friends are welcome to join at the same discounted rate.

To purchase tickets to the event, CLICK HERE. Check in starts at 3 p.m. with pregame activities starting at 3:30 p.m. and concluding at 5:30 p.m. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Parents or guardians must sign a waiver at the check in table for their child to participate. Participants may pick up T-shirts at the registration table starting at 3 p.m. For more details, contact Alexa Miley at 304-293-8424 or email alexa.miley@mail.wvu.edu.

The West Virginia University campus is invited to celebrate the start of the academic year with the College of Applied Human Sciences on Thursday, September 7, 3-5 p.m. at the Evansdale recreation fields. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

The fair will feature free snacks, drinks, 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. 

The Center for ActiveWV in the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences is pleased to announce the receipt of a $768,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's High Obesity Program. The grant, awarded under a five-year cooperative agreement, will support the growth of CAHS's existing HOP grant and the implementation of the Be Wild, Be Wonderful, Be Healthy: Expanded program.

The Be Wild, Be Wonderful, Be Healthy: Expanded program aims to enhance the capacity and partnerships of CAHS in developing and implementing targeted approaches to improve access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities for residents in eight counties across three distinct geographical regions of West Virginia. These counties include Clay, Braxton, Calhoun, Logan, Boone, Lincoln, Summers, and Monroe.