Youth triathlon promotes youth fitness to community
LIght rain didn't dampen the spirits of 46 K-6 athletes from surrounding counties who participated in the 2017 Youth Triathlon at Manchester University, led by faculty and students from the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training and the College of Business. MU sport management and athletic training students volunteered at the second annual event where participants biked, ran and pushed through an obstacle course. Each participant was fitted with a free bike helmet in conjunction with the Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center of Parkview Wabash Hospital and received a healthy snack donated from Chartwells, along with a medal and t-shirt to commemorate the event. Next year's event will be held May 5, 2018 – watch for details!
Health care innovation is topic of symposium
Physical therapists, certified athletic trainers, physicians, physician assistants and nurses gathered to collaborate and discuss current topics in sports medicine at the 2017 Northeast Indiana Sports Medicine Symposium, March 25-26, 2017 at Mirro Center in Fort Wayne. The third annual event, co-sponsored by Manchester University and Parkview Sports Medicine, drew 185 participants, including students from Manchester and Trine Universities, who were able to network with medical professionals and stay abreast of health care trends. Proceeds from the event are reinvested to help students attend other professional development seminars and to bring speakers to future events.Next year's event will be held on Feb. 10-11, 2018
Huntington named Dean For Natural and Health Sciences
Mark Huntington, PED, PT, LAT, ATC, has been named dean for Natural and Health Sciences in the College of Pharmacy, Natural and Health Sciences at Manchester University. He has served as associate dean since October 2015. Huntington earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Manchester, his master’s degree in physical therapy from Boston University and his doctorate in physical education administration and human anatomy from Indiana University. He is also a Certified Athletic Trainer and licensed physical therapist. Huntington has been a Manchester faculty member for 32 years, starting as the university’s first Certified Athletic Trainer in 1984. His teaching specialties include exercise physiology and human anatomy, and his clinical specialty is musculoskeletal assessment. He has served as associate dean for academic affairs and chair of MU’s former Exercise and Sport Sciences Department and has been instrumental in developing nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in athletic training at MU.
MAT aces reaccreditation
The MU Master of Athletic Training Program has been awarded a 10-year accreditation cycle – the maximum allowable – by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.
Read more >
Lana Groombridge Award
The Lana Groombridge Award is given annually at year's end to the top student in each of the three majors within the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training. Awarded by faculty vote, this year's winners are Blake Miller for athletic training, Connor Bresnahan for exercise science and Adrianna Brown for physical education. As top honoree, Miller received a one-year membership to the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and an inscription on a departmental plaque.
NSCA votes for continued partnership
Based on standards for excellence in preparation of our students with our fitness and recreation curriculum, the Manchester University ESAT Department was awarded a three-year renewal with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Manchester has been an educational partner with the NSCA for three years.
Congratulations to 2017 graduates!
Six Master of Athletic Training graduates and 11 undergraduate athletic training students turned their tassels at Manchester's May 20 Commencement services. Congratulations to MAT graduates Bridgette Banks, Cayla Pusey, Aubrey Smith, Emily Jacobs, Brian Kehe and Emily Kenyon, along with undergraduates Jenifer Lee, Alexis Boursier, Brandon Madden, Courtney Chowning, Heather Racine, Sam Burrows, Megan Smith, Blake Miller, Cody Harlan, Kari Carpenter and Alley Seavers
Pictured: The MU Athletic Training undergraduate Class of 2017
And after that ...
Five of Manchester's six Master of Athletic Training graduates passed the spring 2017 Board of Certification exam, along with nine of 11 undergraduate AT majors. That's an 82 percent pass rate!
We are proud of their accomplishments and the success these well-prepared graduates bring to the University. Congratulations!
Volunteering benefits everyone
Learning the value of service to the community and beyond is an integral part of the Manchester student experience, and for MU athletic training students, it also means getting an opportunity to get real experience guiding and monitoring athletes at a special athletic event.
This year, Manchester MAT and AT students will make up nine of the 16 total volunteers at the annual Special Olympics Summer Games, June 8-11, at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. Special Olympics Indiana is part of the international network of accredited Special Olympics Programs that reaches more than 2.5 million athletes with intellectual disabilities worldwide.
 | Alumni SuccessDru Scott was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians AAA affiliate for the Pittsburgh Pirates. |
Congratulations to these MU alumni, too, on their continued post-Manchester successes:
- Brooke Waddups: Trine PT School graduation
- Makenna Lehrman (Hamilton): Trine PT School graduation
- Ryne Lehrman: Trine PT School graduation
- Nick Salupo: Marion College DO School graduation (inaugural year)
- JT Podell: Rehab coordinator for the Houston Astros
Natural and Health Sciences faculty honored as most excellent
The Dean’s Award for Excellence recognizes faculty members who went above and beyond the call of duty in a variety of ways. Nomination letters are submitted for recognition in teaching, service or scholarship. This year, all three awards went to faculty in the College of Pharmacy, Natural and Health Sciences.
- Jeff Beer: Teaching Award
- Kim Duchane: Service Award
- Young Lee: Scholarship Award
New graduates hit the ground running
Last year, 98 percent of MU's Class of 2016 were employed, in graduate school or in full-time service within six months of graduating. This year, with totals yet to come, ESAT grads in the Class of 2017 are already finding successes in a variety of ways. Congratulations to these and all MU graduates as they begin their next new adventures!
- Connor Bresnahan will attend PT school.
- Dennis Brumfield will attend PT school at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
- Sarah Arney will attend PT school at Indiana State University.
- Jared Bourff will teach students with disabilities as an adapted physical educator at Southwest Allen County Schools, Fort Wayne.
- Chad Champion will teach students health and physical education in the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation, Akron, Ind..
- Hunter Gaerte will teach students health and physical education at Wabash City Schools.
- Paige Keller will teach students health and physical education in the Chicago Public Schools.
- Mark Osmialowski will teach students physical education in the Wawasee Community Schools, Syracuse, Ind.
- Megan Smith will attend Ball State University to earn her master's in clinical psychology. Working as a graduate assistant, she plans to eventually earn her Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology and study mild traumatic brain injuries.
- Blake Miller will work with Indiana Physical Therapy with plans to attend physical therapy school after a year.
- Cody Harlan accepted a graduate assistant position with Anderson University and will pursue his MBA.
- Heather Racine accepted a Certified Athletic Trainer internship at Indiana Tech and plans to attend graduate school.
- Alexis Boursier will attend Valparaiso University to obtain her master's in health administration.
- Courtney Chowning will work in Indianapolis with St. Francis Hospital system as a Certified Athletic Trainer.