Come Play at Grand Opening of ASU HPPE

Julie Waechter
The Paw Print

ALAMOSA, CO. (Sept. 9, 2013) . . . Community members are invited to join Adams State University’s Human Performance and Physical Education Department (HPPE) as it cuts the badminton net to inaugurate its new facility at the East Campus (formerly Evans Elementary School). The Grand Opening ceremony begins at 4 p.m., Thursday, September 12, at the First St. and La Veta entrance. The celebration continues until 6 p.m. with live music, a dance contest, food, fun and games, and tours of the newly renovated facility. Participants are encouraged to wear a jersey or cap for their favorite sports team.
“We’d love to have alumni of Evans Elementary, as well as of our HPPE Department, come see how things have changed,” said Dr. Beez Schell, professor and department head of HPPE.
The Open House will allow visitors to tour the new 23,000 sq.-ft. facility, which features an Exercise Physiology Lab, Biomechanics Lab, Strength & Conditioning Lab, smart classrooms, and student computing lab. HPPE students and faculty will demonstrate lab technology and supervise fun and games for all ages. A number of organizations will provide information on local health resources including: San Luis Valley Health, Valley-wide Health Systems, Alamosa Family Recreation Center, ASU Rex Student Activity Center, Trinidad State Junior College massage, chiropractors, and herbalist Teresa Vigil.
Live music will be provided in the east parking lot by Rippah Shreddahs, which will sponsor a skanking dance competition with prizes. Refreshments will be catered by Rubi Slipper.
Community members are also welcome to attend a presentation on “Empower U: ASU’s Commitment to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity,” by Jeremy Yeats, HPPE assistant professor. The talk begins at noon on Sept. 12 in McDaniel Hall room 101.
The HPPE department boasts 233 undergraduate majors and recently revised its degree offerings to prepare students for careers in such fields as coaching, fitness instruction, general health & wellness, nutrition, parks/recreation, physical education, physical therapy, sport management, and sport psychology/counseling.
The department offers undergraduate programs in exercise science, sport management, sport psychology, and K-12 physical education. Graduate programs include a Master of Science in exercise science and Master of Arts in coaching and sport management. For more on HPPE at Adams State, visit www.adams.edu/academics/hppe.
The Open House is part of the tenth annual Adams State University Autumn@Adams Week, September 9 through September 14. The 2013 theme, Health, Fitness, and Beyond/Salud, Buena Forma Física y Más. For a complete schedule, visit www.adams.edu/autumn_at_adams/.