HPER
Archived News - 2006
Dr. Deb Berkey organized and moderated two presentations presented by graduates and current HPER students at the MAHPERD convention held Nov. 9-11. Graduate students enrolled in the Adapted Physical Education Preparation grant supported by the US Department of Special Education offered a session entitled "Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education Curriculum and Teacher/Administrator Certification Standards across the United States. Students who participated in the presentation included: Ashley Barth, Allison Wonch, David Beard, John Fodell, Jim Baird, Tim Arends, Tim Kosiara, Jennifer Leone, Cherie Owens and Robyn Larson. The second presentation featured school teachers employed in Van Buren Intermediate School District. The session was entitled "PEP Grant Report" and featured a fitness and nutrition assessment collected in the county from 4500 students as well as decriptions of grant activities such as school board presentations, district fitness awareness activities and curriculum development. The PEP Grant is funded by the US Department of Education through the Carol M. White Physical Education Improvement Initiative. Teachers who participated in the presentation included alumni Chris Juscyzk, elementary physical educator in Lawton; Dennis Paquette, physical educator at Bangor High School; Alan Farnquist, high school physical educator at Bloomingdale High School; Tim McDaniel, adapted physical educator in the Van Buren County Learning Center; and Stephen Penix, elementary physical educator in Mattawan.
Dr. Deb Berkey received a President's Citation at the MAHPERD convention for her work in the association during the past year.
Fred Marsh (Physical Education) and Allison Kluck (School Health) received the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) Student Honor Awards during the annual conference of the organization held at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo Nov. 9-11.
The Health and Wellness Fair was held on Oct. 17 with more than 50 exhibitors from WMU and the greater Kalamazoo area. Faculty, staff and students spoke with local providers of health and wellness services and were encouraged to create, improve and sustain healthy lifestyles.
Three undergraduate health education majors and Dr. Marianne Frauenknecht have published an invited article in the 2006 Fall issue of the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) Journal. Denise Peters, Rinard Pugh and Aereo Watson helped write "Sexual Health and Education in Michigan: An Update on Progress, Policies, and Practices." This article describes the current risk behaviors among Michigan youth, the recent laws with which health and sexuality education teachers must comply, as well as a list of resources for health educators.
HPER Recreation Majors volunteered to clean parks in the Kalamazoo city park system. The group got to provide much needed help in removing debris and litter from the Knollwood Park which is situated in a neighborhood with a high density of student housing. The park is a site of a disc golf course that is popular with WMU students. The cleanup was organized by Kirk Mills, a summer employee of the Kalamazoo Recreation department and a recreation management major in the HPER department. The Student Recreation Association provided support for the event.
The August 2006 issue of the NATA News, acknowledged undergraduate athletic training students from Western Michigan University for their service to the community during “National Athletic Training Month” (March, 2006). The article states:
Athletic training students from Western Michigan University and the director of the athletic training education program [Jennifer O’Donoghue] assisted in
covering the Special Olympics events held at WMU. The students also got together for an NATA membership drive and volunteered with other athletic trainers to provide coverage for the Kalamazoo Area Relay for Live walk. In addition, in response to a request made by Rob Pincus, a Board member of the Portage Rocket Football League, the Western Michigan University Undergraduate Athletic Training Professional Program provided a presentation on Apr. 10, 2006 to the League’s board members, coaches and parents at KRESA. The presentation included information covering the Sports Medicine related topics of: proper warm-ups; importance of proper technique; common injuries; prevention; procedures/treatment (immediate); weather (heat) concerns; equipment and much more.
Rachel Lindman, an HPER major in physical education, recently received the Special Olympics Area 16 Volunteer of the Year Award. Rachel has served as a coach, chaperone, Unified Games Coordinator, Unified Partner, photographer and friend to all during her five years of involvement with the Special Olympics program.
Three undergraduate health education majors and Dr. Marianne Frauenknecht have published an invited article in the 2006 Fall issue of the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) Journal. Denise Peters, Rinard Pugh and Aereo Watson helped write "Sexual Health and Education in Michigan: An Update on Progress, Policies, and Practices." This article describes the current risk behaviors among Michigan youth, the recent laws with which health and sexuality education teachers must comply, as well as a list of resources for health educators.
HPER Recreation Majors volunteered to clean parks in the Kalamazoo city park system. The group got to provide much needed help in removing debris and litter from the Knollwood Park which is situated in a neighborhood with a high density of student housing. The park is a site of a disc golf course that is popular with WMU students. The cleanup was organized by Kirk Mills, a summer employee of the Kalamazoo Recreation department and a recreation management major in the HPER department. The Student Recreation Association provided support for the event. See attached photo.
The August 2006 issue of the NATA News, acknowledged undergraduate athletic training students from Western Michigan University for their service to the community during “National Athletic Training Month” (March, 2006). The article states:
Athletic training students from Western Michigan University and the director of the athletic training education program [Jennifer O’Donoghue] assisted in
covering the Special Olympics events held at WMU. The students also got together for an NATA membership drive and volunteered with other athletic trainers to provide coverage for the Kalamazoo Area Relay for Live walk. In addition, in response to a request made by Rob Pincus, a Board member of the Portage Rocket Football League, the Western Michigan University Undergraduate Athletic Training Professional Program provided a presentation on Apr. 10, 2006 to the League’s board members, coaches and parents at KRESA. The presentation included information covering the Sports Medicine related topics of: proper warm-ups; importance of proper technique; common injuries; prevention; procedures/treatment (immediate); weather (heat) concerns; equipment and much more.
The spring issue of the Michigan Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Journal featured three WMU health and physical education stories: “Southwest Michigan Regional Conference sets the state for a strong year-end finish” described the Conference held at WMU. Physical education alumni were included on the committee and physical education major intern teachers not only attended the conference but provided support and presided at the sessions. Dr. Suzan Ayers, assistantpProfessor, Krystin Marten, student in MA-PEPM and Dr. Carol Weideman, instructor, all of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, participated in the Conference.
“Substance abuse needs assessment of inner-city youth: A qualitative study with implications for health education teachers” co-authored by Dr. Amos Aduroja discusses studies of drug use among America’s young adults.
“VanBuren Intermediate School District receives PEP Grant” by Krystin Martens, and Dr. Deb Berkey. The Carol M. White Physical Education Program grants sponsored by the US Department of Education are designed to initiate, expand, or improve physical education programs.
The Southwest Regional Physical Education Conference sponsored by the HPER Department on March 3 in the Student Recreation Center was attended by 165 physcial educators. Co-sponsored by University Recreation, this conference is planned and hosted by area physical educators and the Department of Health and Physical Education and its intern teachers.
The Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation awarded 14 scholarships on April 1. The Howard Thompson Scholarship for Physical Education was awarded to the following physical education majors: Andrew Holodnick, Kelsey Kelm, Rachel Lindemann, Fred Marsh, Katherine Niemi, Dylan Patterson, Joshua Scott, Steven Walters, Bradley Wilson and Chad Woodhull. They each received $1,000 scholarships honoring Mr. Thompson, a retired physical educator and athletic administrator from Jackson, MI. Three $500 Harriett Kiser Creed Scholarships were awarded to: Kevin Daus, Jeffery Oney and Brian Stewart. Ms. Harriett Creed was a faculty member in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation from 1957 until her retirement in the early 1990's. The Dr. Candace Roell Graduate Scholarship for Pedagogy was awarded to Eveta Linebaugh who is pursuing a master’s degree in pedagogy. Dr. Roell served as chair of the Women's Physical Education Department from 1960-1967 and was a stellar professional leader in her time.
Dr. Christopher Cheatham and Dr. Tim Michael, assistant professors in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, received word that their proposal, Acquisition of Equipment to Support the Study of Environmental Conditions on Human Physiology and Performance, was funded by the U.S. Army Research Office. The award of $190,000 will be used to purchase and install an environmental chamber in the HPER Exercise Science Lab.
Thesis Project Accepted for Presentation: The thesis project of Amy Gyorkos's, term instructor, Health, Physical Education and Recreation, was accepted for presentation at the national American College of Sports Medicine conference that will be held in Denver, Colorado May 31st -June 3rd. Her presentation is titled: "The Effect of Glycemic Index and Timing of Meal on Exercise to Fatigue."
Special Olympics Unified Sports Needs Volunteers (Partners) - This semester, Basketball (Mondays 5-6:45) at the SRC and Bowling (Wednesdays 5-6:45) at Holiday Lanes needs WMU students to volunteer as partners (playing BB or bowling on a team with Special Olympic athletes). No charge - just a personal weekly commitment, wonderful experience and great fun. Call (269) 387-2718 or e-mail for more information.
Dr. Debra S. Berkey,professor, received the Monor Award of Meritorious Service from the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (MAHPERD). The criterion for this highest honor awarded by MAHPERD include: Active involvement in MAHPERD disciplines in the State of Michigan for at least ten years; significant contributions to the profession through demonstrations, speeches, publications, workshops, service and/or leadership to the organization, state, national or local education or civic organizations; outstanding ability as an educator or administrator and one whose life and contributions have inspired youth in the State of Michigan.
Dr. Debra Berkey, professor and Dr. Jiabei Zhang, associate professor, have received funding from the United States Department of Education--Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of $555,000 for their grant, “Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities”. In addition, working collaboratively with the Van Buren County Intermediate School District, Dr. Debra Berkey will be implementing a Physical Education Improvement Grant of over $500,000 awarded to the district by the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will focus on physical activity, nutrition and curriculum delivery throughout Van Buren County.
The Undergraduate Athletic Training Program has received full accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Athletic Training.
Dr. Robert Bensley, professor, received renewal funding for the second year to support a $456,288 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Bensley’s work centers on utilizing the Internet as a mechanism for enhancing parent-child feeding behaviors among participants enrolled in the USDA supporting Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
Dr. Ruth Ann Meyer, faculty emeriti, will be inducted into the Elinor A. Crawford and William R. Thrall Hall of Excellence at the University of Northern Iowa in Waterloo, Iowa.
Dr. Amos Aduroja, assistant professor, was appointed associate editor and reviewer of The Health Educator, a refereed journal of Eta Sigma Gamma. He was also appointed to the Board of Commissioners, National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Dr. Aduroja also currently serves as the Vice President (Elect for Health) of the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD)
Dr. Yuanlong Liu, associate professor, has accepted the editorship for the journal Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES). More...
Graduate Athletic Training Students (HPER) Monica Lininger, Amanda Porter and Denyse Hennigar received Graduate College Research Grants.
Jeremy Herniman, graduate assistant for the Graduate Athletic Training Program, HPER, performed CPR and saved a female high school track athlete's life in a spring track meet at Loy Norrix High School.
Dr. Mike Miller, assistant professor, has published a Pharmacology text for Athletic Trainers. He also was the lead author for a paper entitled “ Asthma in Athletics” a National Athletic Training Association Position Statement- guidelines for all athletic trainers to follow based upon research.
Recent Publications by HPER faculty:
Ayers, S.F., & Griffin, L.L (Eds.). (2005). Examining mentoring relationships of teachers, PETE students and faculty. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
Ayers, S.F., & Griffin, L.L. (2005). Chapter 5: PETE mentoring as a mosaic. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 24, 368-378.
Griffin , L.L., & Ayers, S.F. (2005). Chapter 1: Introduction-The roles and process of mentoring. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 24, 297-301.
Housner, L., Ayers, S.F., & Wiegand, R. (2005). National physical education standards and practice in the United States. In P. Geng and G. Liang (Eds.), United States National Physical Education Standards (pp. x-x). Beijing, P.R. China: People’s Education Press.
Ayers, S.F. (2005). Treatment of critical concepts in PETE and P-12 programs. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 76(1S), A61.
Ayers, S.F., & Housner, L.D. (2005). A descriptive analysis of undergraduate physical education teacher education programs in the United States. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 76(1S), A62.
2005 AAHPERD Presentations:
Ayers, S.F., & Housner, L.D. (2005, April). A descriptive analysis of undergraduate physical education teacher education programs in the United States. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, Chicago, IL.
Ayers, S.F. (2005, April). Treatment of critical concepts in PETE and P-12 programs. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, Chicago, IL.
Gurvitch, R., Pritchard, T., Ayers, S.F., Housner, L.D., & Wiegand, R. (2005, April). Curricular revisions’ impact on preservice teachers’ CK and PCK. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, Chicago, IL.
Ayers, S.F., Martinez, R., & Wolford, N. (2005, April). Implementing Physical Best in higher education courses. Panel discussant at the meeting of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, Chicago, IL.
Recycled Cell phones support Special Olympics
William C. Gross Associate professor of health, physical education and recreation died Apr. 7.
Professor Remembers Pope as Strong, Charismatic and Humble
FROM KALAMAZOO (NEWS 3) - Western Michigan University professor Lee Delisle remembers Pope John Paul II as a "well-spoken, charismatic individual" who helped reshape the world. Delisle teaches Leisure and Recreation at WMU. He studied at the Vatican in the early 1980's. He and Pope John Paul II had a number of conversations. Delisle told students today about his experiences. One memory that stands out was being in the same room as Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan. "Those were two men who were leaders - leaders by example; leaders by action," he says. "And to understand that they had a positive relationship really suggested to me that good things were going to happen as a result. The fall of the Iron Curtain, in a sense, grew out of that relationship." Desisle says that as he watched the pope's funeral today, he was reminded how the pope brought the loftiness of his position down to the people.
Linda Law - "W" Club Woman of the Year
Girls and Women in Sport
The 12th annual Girls and Women in Sport Day Celebration was held on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at the Radisson and in University Arena. Twenty-eight young athletes and two alumni, Nancy Galloway, WMU and Marjorie Snyder, K-College, were honored at a reception that included remarks from Dr. Jody Brylinsky, HPER and Marge Snyder, Chief Program Officer of the Women's Sport Foundation. A special thanks goes to Dr. Linda Law, chair and Dr. Carol Weideman of the planning committee whose outstanding work in planning, promotion and administration of this project made it a success.
AAHPERD Honors Drs. Yuanlong Liu and Marianne Frauenknecht as Research Fellows
Dr. Yuanlong Liu, associate professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation was recently honored as a research fellow by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals supporting and assisting those involved in physical education, leisure, fitness, dance, health promotion and education and all specialties related to achieving a healthy lifestyle. It is an alliance of six national associations and six district associations and is designed to provide members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills and so further the health and well-being of the American public.
Dr. Liu received his teaching certificate in biomechanics from the Physical Education Institute of Beijing, his teaching certificate in applied statistics from Hua-Zhong Normal University and his B.S. degree in physics specialization from Inner Mongolia Teacher's University -- all during 1982-83. He received his M.P.E. with emphasis on measurement and evaluation specialization from the School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, 1993. Liu earned his Ph.D. in 1999 in measurement and evaluation specialization, also from the School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia.
Dr. Liu came to WMU in 1998 from the University of British Columbia and became an associate professor in 2002 in research methods, statistics, measurement and evaluation.
His main research interests are measurement issues in physical performance, education effectiveness of competition structures in sports, statistical issues in repeated measurements and computer simulation and application in measurement and evaluation in education, health and exercise related fields.
Dr. Marianne Frauenknecht, associate professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation was recently honored as a research fellow by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals supporting and assisting those involved in physical education, leisure, fitness, dance, health promotion and education and all specialties related to achieving a healthy lifestyle. It is an alliance of six national associations and six district associations and is designed to provide members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills and so further the health and well-being of the American public.
Dr. Frauenknecht received her BA in Health and Physical Education in 1974 from Cedarville College, OH; her M.S. in Health & Physical Education in 1982 from the University of Dayton, OH; and her Doctor of Philosophy, Health Promotion/ Education Purdue University, IN in 1990. Frauenknecht came to WMU in 1990 from Purdue University, where she had been teaching since 1983. She became an associate professor at WMU in 1996.
Dr. Frauenknecht recently received the Best Practice Award for Comprehensive Services in Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, New Orleans, LA. The Award: In keeping with AACTE’s commitment to promote the comprehensive preparation of teachers, this award recognizes a teacher education program with exemplary program accomplishments in promoting issues, programs and innovations related to preparing teachers in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention. The award furthers the work of the AACTE/CDC Initiative “Build a Future Without AIDS,” which seeks to make HIV/AIDS prevention an integral part of teacher education.