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Cassie Smith, a West Virginia University physical education graduate (1993), is passionate about getting people outdoors to become more active. As director of the West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League, Smith counts on dedicated coaches and other volunteers as the key to the success of the WV National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

Celebrating five years in the Mountain State, Smith says establishing WV NICA is a huge accomplishment. “Not only are we seeing more kids on bikes, but we are recruiting parents as coaches. In five years, we grew from 130 athletes and 50 coaches to 405 athletes and more than 200 coaches,” Smith said.

Maria Vito, physical education and kinesiology major, chose the West Virginia University PEK program because it combined two of her passions: working with children and seeing them succeed and promoting a physically active lifestyle.

As a PEK student, Vito says that the professors in the department and college have provided “massive” amounts of support. “They are always there to make sure that everything is going well, whether it be with my academics or mental health,” said Vito, from Bentleyville, Pa.

Numerous School of Sport Sciences faculty and students were honored at the Society of Health and Physical Educators conference, held in-person this past October in Charleston, W.Va. The 2022 SHAPEWV award recipients are highlighted below:

Physical Education and Kinesiology major, junior, Bentleyville, Pa.

Two sport management students received first-hand sports business knowledge through the 2022 Presidents Cup, a nationally televised PGA event. Andrew Walker, graduate student, and Justin Violette, undergraduate, traveled to Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C. for the September 22-25 competition. The pair worked for Show Pros Entertainment, Inc., a crowd management and event-oriented staffing company.

Patrick Hairston, sport management teaching assistant professor, says he attempts to associate students with business practitioners and events so they can gain field learning skills and network within the sports industry. “Andrew and Justin both love the game of golf. As I connect with students throughout the semester, I discover their passions. I learned that Andrew and Justin played golf by getting to know them and their interests,” Hairston said.

The College of Applied Human Sciences, in partnership with the West Virginia University Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness by hosting the 6th 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 tournament, commemorating Diversity Week 2022, is scheduled on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 on the turf fields located between the College of Applied Human Sciences building and the Student Recreation Center on the Evansdale Campus.

The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences at WVU is collaborating with Mountaineer Athletics to host the third annual Youth Sports Day, Saturday, Sept. 10, prior to the Kansas Jayhawks vs. WVU football game. This year’s Youth Sports Day is sponsored by U.S Cellular.

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, says Kristen Dieffenbach, professor, coaching and performance science, College of Applied Human Sciences.

Through a partnership with West Virginia University Libraries, all WVU students, faculty and staff will have free digital access to the Sports Business Journal for the 2022-23 academic year. The complimentary access to the nation’s leading publication in sports business is valued at more than $800 for industry professionals.

Those interested can access the journal here. A WVU login and password are required to view the publication.

The School of Sport Sciences in the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University was identified by Newsweek.com as one of the leading sport sciences programs in the U.S.

"It is extremely exciting for our school to be recognized as one of the foremost programs in the country. It is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the faculty," Valerie Wayda, associate professor, associate dean for academic affairs, undergraduate education and school of sport sciences director, said.

Two new faculty members will join the College of Applied Human Sciences for fall 2022. Joni Williamson, sport management teaching assistant professor, and Rachel Wattick, health and well-being teaching assistant professor, bring experience in athletics administration and food science, respectively.

Williamson comes to WVU after spending the last four years as the director of athletics and adventure sports at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C. She has held additional roles at the NCAA in academic and membership affairs, Wittenberg University as associate director of athletics, Wright State as director of athletics promotions and Washington State as facilities operations assistant.

Contributing to more than 480,000 deaths annually in the United States, smoking remains a problem nationwide, especially in the state of West Virginia. A West Virginia University professor is part of a team that is leading an effort to help adults quit smoking.

Peter Giacobbi, professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences and a member of the School of Public Health, is collaborating with research colleagues from the University of Arizona, the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y. and WV First Choice Services to launch the Be Smoke Free project.

COVID-19 has caused an upheaval in higher education. Nearly every aspect of academia has needed to reboot, including learning, teaching and anything related to travel. In planning for their fall conference, the National Strength and Conditioning Association is no exception.   

The 2020 Advanced Periodization Virtual Clinic was initially intended, even prior to the pandemic, to operate on a virtual platform, establishing the event as a unique national conference. Once COVID-19 affected travel, NSCA staff decided that, instead of the speakers flying to NSCA headquarters in Colorado Springs to film their presentations, they would send a representative to each of the speakers at their respective institutions.  

Renowned specialists in the field of strength and conditioning and sport science will participate in the third annual National Strength and Conditioning Association West Virginia State Clinic, featuring speakers typically found on a national platform. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals from a range of specialties.

The event, scheduled for April 3-4, 2020 on the West Virginia University campus, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Human Performance Innovation Center, will highlight cutting-edge research and application.

From the court room to the ticketing office, and now armed with a new degree, Morgantown native Leighann Sainato has gained a fresh perspective in her young professional career.

Starting as a community relations intern with the West Virginia Black Bears in August 2017, Sainato worked closely with Jackie Riggleman, then the assistant general manager and a CPASS Sport Management masters graduate. Now, two years later, the Black Bears have announced the promotion of Sainato to ticket operations and public relations manager.

A West Virginia University-hosted event will provide unprecedented access to renowned professionals in the fields of strength and conditioning and sport science. The second annual workshop will feature speakers typically found on national platforms on Saturday, April 13 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center. Attendees will have an exclusive look at the new applied sport science center located at the WVU Human Performance Innovation Center.

“This is an incredible opportunity for coaches and strength coaches in the state and surrounding area. We will truly have some of the world leaders in the field of strength and conditioning and sport science attending and presenting at this year’s state clinic,” Guy Hornsby , WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences athletic coaching education teaching assistant professor, explained.

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.