Drs. Jiabei Zhang and Yuanlong Liu, professors in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, were invited as keynote speakers to the 2010 Human Physical Educator Symposium. This symposium was held at Human Normal University, Changsha, Human, People’s Republic of China, from November 25-27, 2010. They presented a series of lectures primarily focusing on A Three-Demission-Model of Physical Education Instruction and A Multiple-Component-System of Physical Education Practice at American Schools. 
There were about 400 attendees participating in this symposium.
Zhang and Liu also gave two invited keynote addresses to about 150attendees at the 2010 National Leadership Forum of Sport and Physical Education Colleges and Universities in the People’s Republic of-China. This forum was held at East China Normal University, Shanghai,People’s Republic of China, November 23, 2010. Dr. Zhang’s presentation addressed Primary Philosophies of American School Physical Education Reform and Unique Characteristics of American Physical Education Teacher Training Programs, while Dr. Liu’s speaking placed the emphasis on Practical Analysis of Tenure-Track System and Evaluation Procedure for Physical Education Professors at American Colleges and Universities. Their presentations were sponsored by Hunan Continuing Education Guidance Center for School Teachers and East China Normal University.
Six undergraduate Exercise Science registered student organization members traveled to the Midwest American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) annual conference in Indianapolis, IN. The conference offers a competitive scholarly Jeopardy game, in which three students participated. This ExSci team, representing Western Michigan University finished 2nd place out of 10 teams, finishing only behind MSU. The Jeopardy team consisted of Kelly Bosier, Dylan Rosenthal, and Kelly Frame. The remaining students attending the conference included Jessica Bell, Bridget Miller, and Sara Radant.Pictured from left to right are:
Dylan Rosenthal, Kelly Bosier, Kelly Frame, Sara Radant, Bridget Miller, Jessica Bell, and Amy Gyorkos
Emeriti professor gives informal talk at Wednesdays II
Dr. Harold L. "Hal" Ray, professor emeritus of health, physical education, and recreation, will give a talk titled "Exploring the Beauty of Sports" on Wednesday, Jan. 12, in Walwood Hall at 2 p.m. More...
Myron Harrison, recreation management major and WMU Student Recreation Center (SRC) facility manager, joined several WMU graduate assistants and SRC employees at Club Industry, an exposition to discover and learn about new and upcoming exercise equipment, recreational technology and products. Attending expositions such as Club Industry is an important event for those in the fitness/recreation field. Individuals in the field try to bring back the technology or products they discovered at the exposition to their respective facilities in order to increase their service and appreciation for their consumers.
This year's exposition encompassed the famous fitness role model Richard Simmons. He shared his experience in the fitness field and how he defined success.
Pictured from left to right are Amy Seth, Director of WMU Student Recreation Center; Jasmine Chatten, Graduate Assistant of Facilities and Student Development; Jen Bailey, Assistant Director of Fitness/Wellness;
Richard Simmons; Senika Harrison, Graduate Assistant of Group Fitness;
Albert Allison, Graduate Assistant of Programs and Facilities;
Chris Voss, Associate Director of WMU Student Recreation Center; Front Row: Myron Harrison.
Jonathan Schmees- WMU Major of the Year- 2010
Deb Berkey- MAHPERD University Educator of the Year- 2009
Cheri Welch- President- MAHPERD 2010-
WMU Physical Education (UG) and Pedagogy (Grad)
Tracy Daniel- MAHPERD High School Physical Educator of the Year (2010)
Comstock High School
WMU Physical Education Teacher Education (UG)/Sports Studies (Grad)
Christine Jusszczyk- MAHPERD Elementary Physical Educator of the Year
Lawton Community Schools
WMU Physical Education Teacher Education (UG)/Sports Administration (Grad)
Eta Sigma Gamma is pleased to present the 2010 Distinguished Service Award to Amos O. Aduroja, associate professor of health education at Western Michigan University. Dr. Aduroja exemplifies what the DSA award recognizes; working tirelessly to further the ideals of the honorary through teaching, service, and research.
Dr. Aduroja began his professional career in the 1970s, as he completed a bachelor's degree in health education and a master's degree in public health from Western Illinois University, where he first became familiar with Eta Sigma Gamma. After spending one year with the World Health Organization, he returned to the University of Michigan to obtain a doctorate degree. Afterward, he became a faculty at Wayne State University where he was an assistant professor and chair of the Health Education Department between 1985 and 1990. He was also a charter member and faculty sponsor of the Beta Sigma chapter at Wayne State University.
Through the decade of the 1990s, Dr. Aduroja devoted his professional life to serving as the Director of Health and Substance Abuse for the Detroit Urban League and the Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse for the City of Detroit. In these positions, he procured and managed grants, services, and programs totaling over 40 million dollars for substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation.
In 2001 he joined the faculty at Western Michigan University, where he has served as the faculty sponsor for the Gamma Mu chapter since 2005. In this capacity, he has been a consummate role model for student members, enabling them to write proposals; plan projects; and develop service, education, and research activities. For example, under his leadership, the chapter wrote a grant to secure the necessary funding to promote alcohol risk reduction on campus. He guided the students through planning, implementing, and evaluating the Western Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Project (WASAP). As stated by a former chapter officer, "By acting as a resource rather than a director, the WASAP project blossomed into an award- winning, student-led alcohol risk reduction project." In fact, the chapter was awarded the "Model Program of the Year for 2009" by Prevention Network of Michigan. During this same time, Amos also served the profession at large by serving on the Board of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing as the Chair of the Division Board for Professional Preparation and Practice.
Amos also continues to serve the national office of Eta Sigma Gamma as an associate editor and reviewer for the Health Educator: Journal of Eta Sigma Gamma. Because of his tireless efforts, Dr. Aduroja has received numerous awards, two of which are from Eta Sigma Gamma. He was a 2007 recipient of the Warren Schaller Presidential Citation Award and the 2009 faculty sponsor of the year award.
Dr. Jiabei Zhang, professor, received a federal grant of $1.18 million funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This grant will be used to develop and maintain the Project Using a Hybrid Online Master's Degree Program for Preparing Qualified Adapted Physical Education Teachers. This project addresses an extensive distance learning need expressed by many potential applicants in Michigan and other states in the U.S. It also addresses preparing qualified personnel to meet the significant need for more qualified adapted PE teachers in public schools. It is the first such online program in special (adapted) physical education in the nation. Graduate students accepted into this program will take online courses with up to 27 credit hours and traditional courses with at least 9 credit hours. They will be granted free tuition textbooks. This project will start in Spring 2011. Please contact or (269) 387-2949 if you are interested in this program.
Dr. Robert Bensley recently published Travels with Livingstone: An American Family’s Journey into South African Culture, a travelogue that follows his professional and personal experiences while engaging in a six-month sabbatical experience working at what is now the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. His book chronicles his professional and personal experiences as both he and his family delve into post-Apartheid South Africa. He humorously tells the story of his exploits in transforming his own “third-culture kid” yearnings onto his children as they dive head first into the heart of South African culture. The adventure begins as the Bensley family first learns of the opportunity; follows their exploits as they engage in, embrace, and experience South Africa; and carries through to when they return back to the U.S. Simple daily living—including fascination with South African schools, a myriad of new and interesting foods, off-road adventures and mishaps in their adopted Land Rover ‘Livingstone,” wild animals, crisscrossing the countryside, and a deep dive into the poverty and shacks that are a bold remnant of a once oppressive government system—becomes a central focus of this story.
Dr. Amos O. Aduroja, associate professor, has been named the Outstanding Faculty Sponsor of the Year for 2009 by Eta Sigma Gamma, the national health education honor society. Each year, chapters have the opportunity to nominate their faculty sponsor as the Outstanding Faculty Sponsor of the Year. Selection criteria is based on length of service and evidence of exceptional leadership and mentoring of students. The honor is presented yearly at the annual business meeting by the current national president. WMU students nominated Aduroja for not only teaching and sharing his love of health education throughout the years, but also for ensuring that all Gamma Mu members develop the skills and professionalism necessary to succeed in this field... Full Story
Dr. Robert Bensley, professor, was awarded funding through the Technology Development Fund. Dr. Bensley will receive funds for his proposal, iManageHealth which is designed to operate
as a front end system to fit within existing
health promotion resource systems.
Students enjoyed food, beverages, and recreational activities at the Minds in Motion event held on April 15. HPER and professional student organizations hosted the reception for all majors, minors, and interested students in health, physical education, and recreation fields.
The fifth annual College Sports Career Day took place at WMU’s Fetzer Center on April 16. This was a unique opportunity for high school students, staff and parents to explore a variety of career opportunities in the world of intercollegiate athletics.
Dr. John M. Dunn, president and HPER professor, has been selected by the Research Consortium Awards Committee of the American Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance as the 2010 recipient of the Research Consortium Distinguished Service Award. This is the highest honor given by the Research Consortium. Nominees are highly regarded individuals with distinguished research careers who have served the Research Consortium in a wide range of capacities. Dr. Dunn is recognized for over three decades of service to advance the Research Consortium, including President of the Consortium, Board of Governors Representative and serving on and chairing numerous committees. Dr. Dunn has promoted the research mission of the RC throughout these leadership roles. Recent expansion of programming into areas such as webinars and online tutorials are a result of members such as him who continue advocating for the visibility of research within AAHPERD.
Dr. Jody Brylinsky, professor, has been selected as a fellow in the North American Society for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance with the 2010 class. The Society recognizes outstanding professionals from within the allied professions of health education, physical education, recreation, sport and dance in North America. She joins a most prestigious group of professionals, including WMU President John Dunn, and Dr. Debra Berkey, professor, who have dedicated their professional lives to improving the health and quality of life for individuals across the globe. The induction ceremony will be held in conjunction with the 2010 AAHPERD National Convention March 16–20 in Indianapolis as part of the R. Tait McKenzie Lecture.
Stop and think before using the word "retard." That is what participating Western Michigan University students, athletes and family members are asking of the community... more
The “R” Word Campaign asks everyone to stop and think before using the word ‘retard’.