McCullick

Bryan McCullick, a professor and physical education program coordinator for the department of kinesiology, said it was crucial to teach children how to be active early in life if they are going to be active in adulthood. But unclear regulations may restrict PE’s effectiveness in schools in a September 30 Red & Black story.

Vang deadlifting at Junior Worlds with Club Powerlifting alumnus Brooks Conway coaching him.

College of Education student James Vang came home ranked fourth in the world in his age group and weight class after competing in the International Powerlifting Federation’s Junior World Championships in Killeen, Texas.

Vang, a junior from Bethlehem majoring in health and physical education, placed fourth in the 20-23 year-old age group and 145-pound weight class in his international debut for the U.S. National Powerlifting Team at the Aug 26-Sept. 1 event.

Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press and deadlift. The squat is a weightlifting exercise in which one squats and stands while holding a weighted barbell supported by the back of the shoulders. The bench press is an exercise in which one lays on his or her back, lowers a weight to chest level, and then pushes it back up until the arms are straight. The deadlift is an exercise in which one lifts a loaded barbell off the ground from a stabilized, bent over position.

A native of Appleton, Wis., Vang has only been lifting for about two years at UGA. In the competition, which drew lifters from 32 countries around the world, Vang was not only representing Wisconsin and UGA, but also the Hmong-American people.

“Being able to lift on the team as the first generation of Hmong people is a stepping stone not only for me in the sport, but also for Hmong-Americans as a whole,” he said.

Vang bench pressed 369 pounds, deadlifted 545 pounds and finished with 573 pounds on the squats for a total of 1,488 pounds.

“James appears to bring the same dedication to his powerlifting that he does to the classroom,”
said Bryan McCullick, professor and coordinator of the physical education program in the department of kinesiology.

Vang made the U.S. National Powerlifting Team by competing and being at the top of his weight class in two national meets.

But how did he become interested in powerlifting?

“I was always a lifter at heart, but just didn’t have any connections with anyone who knew about powerlifting. When powerlifting comes to mind many people think of the Olympics, but the Olympic lifts and Powerlifts are two totally different cultures,” said Vang.

In December 2011, Club Powerlifting at UGA held the Strongest Dawg competition which featured the squat, bench press and deadlift.

“I didn’t know what the deadlift was at first, but since it consisted of the bench and squat, I decided why not learn the deadlift as well and compete in it,” said Vang. “After two or three months of training for that meet at UGA, I won and met Mark Freeman, who is a UGA graduate student and head coach / president of the UGA Powerlifting Club.

“He guided my entire powerlifting career after that to Collegiate Nationals and I won there. He introduced me to many people who were heavily involved in powerlifting like Sherman Ledford and Brooks Conway,” he said.

After he graduates, Vang said he hopes to coach weightlifting classes at a high school or higher level education environment.
 

McCully

Evans

The work of two College of Education faculty — Kevin McCully and Ellen Evans — is featured in separate articles on the UGA Home Page and in Columns this week (Sept 16-20).

McCully’s work is cited in the Research feature on the UGA Home Page, titled, “Study could bring relief for arterial disease.”  The study,  by Dr. Jonathan Murrow, cardiologist and faculty member with the Georgia Regents University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership in Athens, employs methods using light sensor that were developed by McCully, a physiologist in the College of Education’s department of kinesiology, to measure oxygen levels in the exercising muscles as well as the number of working mitochondria. The storyis also featured in the Sept. 16 issue of Columns.

Evans’ work in directing the transition of the UGA Fitness Center, based in the College of Education, from a cardiac rehabilitation mission to a more contemporary fitness program serving multiple populations is featured in a  story in the Sept. 16 issue of Columns.

Gleaton

Amy Gleaton (BSED ’93) has been named 2013-14 Dalton Teacher of the Year, reported  Sept. 10 stories  on  Chattanoogan.com and WSMV.com in Nashville.  Gleaton has taught in Dalton Public Schools for 10 years—the last two at Dalton High School as a chemistry and physical science teacher.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Georgia.

Ellen Evans, an associate professor in kinesiology and director of the new UGA Health and Physical Activity Center. Photo by Paul Efland

For more than 30 years the University of Georgia Fitness Center has provided supervised exercise programs for adults with heart disease and training for students to work as exercise specialists in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Now, the center based in the College of Education and located in the Ramsey Center, has transitioned into a contemporary fitness program with a new mission and a new name—the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health.

Ellen Evans, its new director and an associate professor of exercise science in the department of kinesiology, is leading the Center’s transformation. The Fitness Center was first established in 1980 by Harry Duval, a professor in the department of physical education in the College of Education. It was designed as an outreach program which also served as a teaching/learning lab for student practicums and internships.

“I worked in the Fitness Center as a PhD student when it was a Phase III cardiac rehab center,” said Evans. “Through the years, it has only served two of the university’s three missions—teaching and service. Now, we will be serving all three missions—research, teaching and service.”

The Center has also broadened its mission to include programming for various populations with an emphasis on the prevention and management of chronic diseases and conditions which benefit from physical activity.

Evans (PhD ’98) is the perfect person to lead this transition. She earned her doctorate in exercise science at UGA under the guidance of Kirk Cureton, professor and head of the department of kinesiology. She is a recognized researcher in body composition and exercise. Since joining the UGA faculty in 2010, she has secured $1.8 million in new external funding, $1.3 million as principal investigator.

Lauren Peterson, a second-year graduate student in kinesiology from Twinsburg, Ohio; leads a step aerobics class at the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health.

Evans says the changes she is bringing to the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health will benefit individuals from the Athens community as well as UGA researchers, faculty, staff, and students. “The goal is to provide community outreach programs and learning opportunities for our students while simultaneously providing infrastructure for research in physical activity,” said Evans.

“Employee health and wellness programs, which always include exercise, are of high interest because the health benefits translate into a more productive employee and reductions in health care costs,” said Evans. “We plan to reach out to UGA employees. We want the Center to be a resource for the “Working Dawgs” who prefer a smaller fitness facility with greater one-on-one attention. Right now, we’re the best-kept secret on campus for faculty and staff. For about a dollar a day, members receive a very comprehensive program.”

The Center is an excellent option for individuals who prefer a high trainer-to-participant ratio and/or a higher level of supervision for safety reasons.

“In addition, the social aspects of membership are really important. Social support is a primary reason why many people adhere to an exercise program,” said Evans.

There are exercise sessions in the early morning, mid-day and early evening on weekdays. The Center offers group-based exercise classes for cardio-respiratory endurance, muscle strength and flexibility and individualized personal training is also available.

Evans says her work in developing the Center for Physical Activity and Health really excites her because it’s a vehicle through which she can have the most impact to help people enhance their health through physical activity.

“It’s on my professional bucket list,” she said. “When I’m dead and gone my goal is that UGA will have an established Center with sustainable physical activity programs that will make a difference in people’s lives.”

For more information, visit: www.coe.uga.edu/CPAH/
or contact uga.cpah@gmail.com

 Sept. 16 Columns story

Lauren Peterson, a second-year graduate student in kinesiology from Twinsburg, Ohio; leads a step aerobics class at the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health. Photo by Paul Efland

For more than 30 years the University of Georgia Fitness Center has provided supervised exercise programs for adults with heart disease and training for students to work as exercise specialists in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Now, the center based in the College of Education and located in the Ramsey Center, has transitioned into a contemporary fitness program with a new mission and a new name—the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health.

Ellen Evans, its new director and an associate professor of exercise science in the department of kinesiology, is leading the Center’s transformation. The Fitness Center was first established in 1980 by Harry Duval, a professor in the department of physical education in the College of Education. It was designed as an outreach program which also served as a teaching/learning lab for student practicums and internships.

“I worked in the Fitness Center as a PhD student when it was a Phase III cardiac rehab center,” said Evans. “Through the years, it has only served two of the university’s three missions—teaching and service. Now, we will be serving all three missions—research, teaching and service.”

The Center has also broadened its mission to include programming for various populations with an emphasis on the prevention and management of chronic diseases and conditions which benefit from physical activity.

Evans (PhD ’98) is the perfect person to lead this transition. She earned her doctorate in exercise science at UGA under the guidance of Kirk Cureton, professor and head of the department of kinesiology. She is a recognized researcher in body composition and exercise. Since joining the UGA faculty in 2010, she has secured $1.8 million in new external funding, $1.3 million as principal investigator.

Evans says the changes she is bringing to the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health will benefit individuals from the Athens community as well as UGA researchers, faculty, staff, and students. “The goal is to provide community outreach programs and learning opportunities for our students while simultaneously providing infrastructure for research in physical activity,” said Evans.

“Employee health and wellness programs, which always include exercise, are of high interest because the health benefits translate into a more productive employee and reductions in health care costs,” said Evans. “We plan to reach out to UGA employees. We want the Center to be a resource for the “Working Dawgs” who prefer a smaller fitness facility with greater one-on-one attention. Right now, we’re the best-kept secret on campus for faculty and staff. For about a dollar a day, members receive a very comprehensive program.”

The Center is an excellent option for individuals who prefer a high trainer-to-participant ratio and/or a higher level of supervision for safety reasons.

“In addition, the social aspects of membership are really important. Social support is a primary reason why many people adhere to an exercise program,” said Evans.

There are exercise sessions in the early morning, mid-day and early evening on weekdays. The Center offers group-based exercise classes for cardio-respiratory endurance, muscle strength and flexibility and individualized personal training is also available.

Evans says her work in developing the Center for Physical Activity and Health really excites her because it’s a vehicle through which she can have the most impact to help people enhance their health through physical activity.

“It’s on my professional bucket list,” she said. “When I’m dead and gone my goal is that UGA will have an established Center with sustainable physical activity programs that will make a difference in people’s lives.”

For more information, visit: www.coe.uga.edu/CPAH/
or contact uga.cpah@gmail.com

 Sept. 16 Columns story

Tomporowski

McCullick

Bryan McCullick and Phil Tomporowski, both professors in the department of kinesiology in the College of Education, stepped up to do their part in the fight against childhood obesity when they started an after-school exercise program at Chase Street Elementary School in 2011 that targets children in grades 2 through 5, reports a feature story in the September 3 Athens Banner-Herald.

Jeremy Dean, (C), chats with Alexis Winger, (L) and Cheryl Bement as they walk on treadmills during a senior workout session at the Ramsey Center. Photo by Richard Hamm/Athens Banner-Herald

Research co-directed by  COE faculty member Ellen Evans focusing on exercise and diet for senior citizens was featured in a front page article in the August 6 issue of the Athens Banner-Herald.  Evans, an associate professor in kinesiology, is leading the project with Mary Ann Johnson, a professor in Foods and Nutrition in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

This was the second story in a six-part series on obesity research conducted through the Obesity Initiative at the University of Georgia.

McCullick

Bryan McCullick, a professor in kinesiology, is featured in a July 18  WSB-TV report on the need for more physical education for students in Georgia schools.

McCullick was interviewed and a study he published a year ago on the topic showing only six states in the country met physical education recommendations was cited.

Hawkins

“We all share responsibility,” writes Billy Hawkins, professor in the department of kinesiology,  on whether character matters in pro sports in the July 2 New York Times’    “Room for Debate” feature.