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CPASS faculty members Drs. Jack Watson and Damien Clement accompanied 10 students on a trip to Halmstad University, a worldwide leader in sport and exercise psychology, in Sweden March 23-30. 

While there, students experienced a multitude of educational growth and experiences that relate to their studies at WVU. By traveling to Sweden, they had the opportunity to learn how many aspects of sport psychology, sport management and athletic coaching differ in countries beyond the U.S.

Chad Ballard, M.S. SM 2009, has an exciting career with Feld Entertainment in   Tampa, Fla., and he attributes much of his success to the knowledge and experience he gained as a CPASS student. 

Ballard spends his days walking the elephants and horses from The Greatest Show on Earth down Main Street to announce the circus is in town, brain-storming marketing techniques for Monster Jam Motorsports events, and keeping fans enticed when they attend Disney On Ice.

With the recent firing of Rutgers University basketball coach Mike Rice in the sports spotlight, everyone is thinking it. Are mean coaches effective?

Discovery News released a psychology article related to this topic on April 4. Kristin Dieffenbach, assistant professor of athletic coaching education at CPASS, was quoted in the article for her knowledge on the issue.

Ishonte’ Allar, CPASS Physical Education Teacher Education graduate student, was recently awarded the West Virginia University W.E.B. Du Bois Fellowship.

Allar will receive a monetary stipend from the university to further her higher education. Despite the fact that she could have gone anywhere, Allar decided to continue her studies at WVU CPASS because she feels she gained invaluable experience and education.

Graduate assistant Kristi Bowen is taking a new approach to teaching students about physical education.

The secondary block students in the CPASS physical education teacher education program competed in a dance competition on Thursday, March 21 in the Coliseum. Student-created “fitness” and ballroom dances were performed such as the waltz, foxtrot, salsa, cha cha, and swing dance.

Sport Management grad Keith Ricci is making his way up in the world of professional hockey with the Boston Bruins, and he contributes much of his success to WVU and CPASS. 

“My first step was attending WVU for the well-respected Sport Management program. Besides the education, the networking with other Mountaineer students and alumni was critical. There are Mountaineers everywhere around the world in all different lines of work who are willing to help other Mountaineers learn and succeed,” said Ricci.

The Sport and Exercise Psychology program in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University was recognized with the Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Exercise and Sport Psychology award by Division 47 of the American Psychological Association.

Every three years, the APA awards a sport psychologist or training program that over time has consistently provided significant contributions to education and training in exercise and sport psychology. The award will be presented at the 2013 APA Convention, in Honolulu, HI from July 31 to August 4.

Dr. Christiaan Abildso, program coordinator, PEIA Weight Management Program, and Dr. Kelly Gurka, WVU Injury Control Research Center, have researched the connection between accidents involving pedestrians and cost to the state.

While studying all accidents in West Virginia from 2000 to 2006, the costs of the accidents were severe: 206 people died and nearly 3,100 were inured. That amounted to “comprehensive costs” – including estimates for lost quality of life – at $1.19 billion dollars in 2005, Abildso said.

As cheerleading gains more national recognition and safety issues are at record high, Kelly Stewart offers West Virginia University students the chance to learn how to coach cheerleading in a safe, responsible and exciting way. 

In recent years, cheerleading has gained widespread acknowledgment for the increasing physical demands of the sport. Observations of accidents and serious injuries are prompting people like Stewart to take action. Her experience in both coaching and judging has given her insight into these issues, and she is using her talent to help students gain hands-on experience in coaching cheerleading.

CPASS Ware Distinguished Professor, Dr. Eloise Elliott, continues to see success in promoting healthy lifestyles in West Virginia. 

Elliott was invited to participate in a webinar sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) on Jan. 30. The webinar featured the Physical Activity Guidelines for all Americans, and Elliott had the opportunity to highlight the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan.