From the Director

Jeff Beer, Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training and Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Athletic Training

Congratulations Students and Alumni!

It is time again to recognize those students and alumni that have thrived throughout the Spring 2019 semester, whether their achievements are through new employment, acceptance to graduate school or other life-changing events.

Reminder, we only know what’s been shared with us – if you have updates
to be recognized, please email them to me at jabeer@manchester.edu.

Jeff

• Jeffrey Beer, Chair and Program Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training, successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation on April 30, 2019. Jeff’s Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences is from Indiana University.
• Tyler Helm ’19 (Exercise Science and Fitness) earned his CSCS and USAW credentials.
• Adriana Millican ’19 (Exercise Science) will pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Trine University.
• Drake Dewitt ’19 (Exercise Science): will pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
• Kayla Michaels ’19 (Exercise Science) was accepted into the Occupational Therapy Program at Indiana Wesleyan University.
• Haley Farris ’19 (Athletic Training) was awarded an IATA Professional Education Scholarship.
• Isabella Zoog ’19 (Exercise Science) was accepted into the Occupational Therapy Program at Milligan College.
• Frank Sammons ’18 accepted a temporary position in the Dominican Republic Baseball League.
• Jacey Cauhorn ’18 was hired at Fort Wayne Orthopedics as a clinical assistant/DME.
• Katelynn Skeens ’19 (Exercise Science) will pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Mount Saint Joseph College.
• Harrison Hollis ’19 (Exercise Science & Health minor) accepted position as director of personal trainers at L.A. Fitness in Indianapolis.
• Chad Champion ’19 (Physical Education Teaching) completed student teaching this fall at Tippecanoe Valley Schools.
• Rachel Roths 19’ (Athletic Training) Accepted a position as an athletic trainer with Community Health in Munster, Indiana.
• Casey Arseneau ’21: (Physical Education Teaching) was awarded the 2019 Jean Lee/Jeff Marvin Collegiate Scholarship by the Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators (InSHAPE)
• Physical Education Teaching majors MiKayla Duzan ’20, Jake Van Pelt ‘21, Zach White ’22, and Casey Arseneau ’21 represented MU at the Student Leadership Conference of the Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators (InSHAPE).
• Andrew Harris ’22 (Exercise Science) and Zach White ’22 (Physical Education Teaching) collaborated with Sarah Emmert, special education teacher at Manchester Elementary School, to start a Unified program partnering Special Olympics athletes with general education students to train and compete in track and field.
• Exercise Science majors Brooke Clifton ’21, Oliva Flores ’22, Taylor Gibson ’22, and Shannon Keams ’22 coached athletes with disabilities in the Special Olympics of Wabash County track and field program.
• Health Promotion minors collaborated with the MU Wellness Committee to put on the 2018 Health and Fitness Fair last fall.
• Health Promotion minors provided service to residents at the Timbercrest Senior Living Community leading an exercise program during January session.
• Health Promotion minors served on the Survivor Committee to host cancer survivors at the 2019 Wabash County Cares Celebration of Hope event.
• Physical Education Teaching majors and Fitness and Recreation majors provided service to more than 70 children in the Wabash Association of Teaching Children at Home (WATCH), leading a physical activity program consisting of team sports in the fall and individual sports and fitness activities in the spring.
• Student-athletes in the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training partnered with athletes in the Special Olympics of Wabash County to compete in the Unified Bowling Tournament hosted by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in Indianapolis in April.
• Adapted Physical Activity minors took part in March’s Disability Awareness Month by using wheelchairs and simulating various disabilities on campus.
  

Physical Education Standouts Attend Conference

Mikayla Duzan and three other physical education majors attended the INSHAPE Leadership Conference in Indianapolis this year. All students attending from MU were on the Council for Future Professionals and will present at the state conference next fall. Mikayla was also elected council president. We are proud of our students in physical education as they continue to stand out.

Lucas Dargo Advocates and Earns Award

Lucas Dargo, assistant professor or exercise science and athletic training and clinical education coordinator, was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Ball State University where he earned an undergraduate degree in athletic training. Lucas is also an avid member of the legislation crew with IATA and has been a huge advocate for the profession of athletic training. He recently advocated in Washington D.C. during “Hit the Hill Day” and during an advocacy day in Indianapolis.

Logansport Sports Medicine Dominated by MU Athletic Trainer

Logansport Memorial Hospital recently increased the staffing in their sports medicine department by four – all Manchester alumni! Tyler Hudson, Jordan Weitzell, Primmer Zook and Sydney Sims are all recent graduates working together to give the Logansport area some great athletic training services. Their current assignments are:

• Tyler Hudson: North Miami High School
• Sydney Sims: Logansport High School
• Jordan Weitzell: Caston High School
• Primmer Zook: Peru High School

BOC Congratulations

Congratulation to these students for passing on their first try the Board of Certification exam for Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC):

• Lauren Ehle
• Beth Schaefer
• Mikayla Patterson
• Landon Bridges
• Rachel Roths
• Sydney Thompson
• Morgan Butler

International Sports Medicine Travels to Greece and Italy

January session 2019 proved to be another great experience for students who ventured to Greece and Italy for a class in International Sports Medicine. Participants spent 11 days in Greece, visiting the capital city of Athens and then hitting the road to see the countryside and islands.

Faculty guide Jeff Beer recalls that students visited with a physiotherapist and learned about the Greek medical system and how economics play a part in health care. They studied the cultural and historical significance of the Acropolis and Parthenon. In the Greek countryside, they visited the towns of Gythio and Napflio, and ventured on a three-island tour by boat, where cars were not allowed and donkeys were a preferred way to travel.

“The relationships built, culture and history explored and sites seen were once again a great opportunity for our students,” says Beer.

Momentum Builds for 2019-2020

The outlook is positive with a steady momentum as efforts continue in building the incoming Master of Athletic Training class of 2019-2020. Faculty have taken an active role, traveling to career fairs, recruiting on campus and lessening barriers to admission by modifying articulation agreements. 

Currently, enrollment stands at 11 new MAT students – and the cohort is diverse, with students hailing from Alaska to Florida. Recruiting continues during the summer, with hopes of further growth.

University officials contribute recruitment success to a cohort of undergraduate MU students who are making the transition from exercise science to athletic training, the program’s move to Fort Wayne, and a new, exciting curricular changes that will immerse students in clinical opportunities for up to seven weeks, providing more hands-on experiences.



Construction of new lab spaces at MU’s Fort Wayne campus is scheduled to begin May 20 to be ready for Aug. 28 classes.

GLATA Alumni Night at Spears

More than 25 Manchester athletic training alumni reunited at Spears Bourbon Burgers Beer in Chicago in March, and enjoyed great conversation and food, as well as gifts from MU’s Alumni Association. Alumni spanned the decades, and shared stories of new jobs and new additions to their families.

It’s time to mark your calendars for next year! Save the date for March 12, 2020, 6 p.m., to join the fun. Watch for more details closer to the event.

North East Indiana Sports Medicine Symposium (NEISMS)

Reminder: The 2019 Northeast Indiana Sports Medicine Symposium, hosted by Manchester University, Parkview Sports Medicine and Trine University, is scheduled for July 13, 2019 at Mirro Center in Fort Wayne. The event offers eight (category A) continuing education units each for athletic trainers and physical therapists at $125 per CE credit. A significant portion of proceeds collected through this event are directed to Manchester University Exercise Science and Athletic Training programs to offset the cost of professional seminars, conferences and certifications for students. Alumni are encouraged to attend. Please visit the website to register and for more information: www.manchester.edu/neisms

Clinical Staff Highlight

Welcome to the newest members of Manchester’s athletic training family! Joining our clinical staff are two alumni from the Class of 2018, Amanda Toney and RJ Wilson, along with Kevin Guillion, who comes to Manchester from Parkview Sports Medicine.

We thank them for their dedication and service and welcome them to Manchester! 

Amanda Toney

RJ Wilson

Kevin Guillion