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The  West Virginia University  Alumni Association will celebrate recipients of the 2024  Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards during  Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 18-20, recognizing the accomplishments of alumni around the world and honoring their service, commitment and loyalty to their alma mater.

College of Applied Human Sciences alumnae Tracy Schoenadel (‘87, ‘89, ‘92) and Laura Boyd (‘89, ‘91) will be honored with the distinctive title of Outstanding Alumni. 

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 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.

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.

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.

Emily Faddis initially came to West Virginia University with the thought of going to medical school but soon discovered her passion for physical education. She then hopped on the fast track to a bachelor's and master's degree in physical education and earned both in 2020. She credits the supportive faculty as key to her success in school at WVU. Emily got her first teaching job right out of school in Marion County and moved to Brookhaven Elementary in Morgantown in 2022.

She integrates technology into her classroom to engage her students and believes in the critical role of physical education in developing well-rounded, physically literate individuals. She advises recent graduates to be proactive and confident in their teaching opportunities and emphasizes the importance of self-care to avoid burnout. Professional development and collaboration with fellow physical education teachers have been key to her continued growth.

Matthew Gonzalez’s journey into the field of sport psychology began serendipitously with an encouraging push from a mentor at San Jose State University. This initial nudge sparked a passion for applied mental performance work and led him to one of the premiere programs in the country at West Virginia University. While WVU's reputation attracted him to Morgantown, he soon found that it was the supportive community, faculty and staff that made the difference. 

After career stops as an instructor at San Jose State and an Assistant Athletic Director of Sport Psychology and Counseling, Gonzalez now leverages his enthusiasm for the field and his training from WVU in his role as a performance psychology instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he provides comprehensive performance psychology support to cadets.