ESU Students and Faculty in the News

Posted by: admin on March 3, 2014, No Comments

Four East Stroudsburg University alumni, all of whom majored in health and physical education, received awards and one current ESU student was honored with a scholarship at the annual Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in November.

Kevin Avery, who graduated in 2005, was honored with the “Emerging Leader Service Award,” which recognizes an outstanding young professional who exemplifies professionalism and outstanding leadership in health, physical education, recreation, dance or other related fields of study.

Angelo Lafratta, a member of the class of 2001, was the winner of the “Physical Education Teacher of the Year (middle school) Award,” which honors physical educators who are deemed to be outstanding with regard to their knowledge, application of pedagogy and contributions to the profession.

Travis D. Martin, who graduated in December 2004, won the “Coach of the Year Award,” which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a philosophy that is consistent with positive educational values as well as high moral and ethical standards as a coach.

Jessica Ras, who graduated in December 2013, was given the “Outstanding Future Professionals Award.”

Travis Hinkel, an ESU senior from Ashland, Pa., majoring in health and physical education, was the winner of the “Violet Baumgardner Scholarship.” Baumgardner was an active member of PSAHPER from 1934 to 1974, including having served as treasurer from 1949 to 1974, an era during which books were kept in ledgers and not electronically. Her records were legendary in their accuracy, according to the PSAHPERD website. She was a public school teacher for health and physical education in the Harrisburg School District and was a PSAHPER Professional Honor Award Recipient in 1951 (Dance was later added and it became PSAHPERD). In 1965, she was the first person to receive a PSAHPER Professional Service Award.

While at the five-day conference titled, “Many Hands, Many Minds, One Goal,” in King of Prussia, Pa., the attendees visited nearly 50 exhibits, took part in more than 110 sessions and attended two award ceremonies.

A pair of East Stroudsburg University professors published an article in the winter 2014 edition of the Pennsylvania Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance.

The article, titled “Components of Fitness and Swimming,” was co-written by Peng Zhang, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical education, and Kevin Casebolt, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of movement activities and lifetime fitness.