Kinesiology Students Receive American Kinesiology Association Awards

Colleen Chase presents her research at the American College of Sports Medicine conference in 2018.

Four UMass Amherst kinesiology students were among the recipients of awards from the American Kinesiology Association (AKA), including master’s student Colleen Chase, who earned the association’s 2020 National Master’s Scholar Award. The nationally competitive scholar award honors a select number of students whose academic and leadership records are distinctive.

“We are very proud of the work that Colleen has done in her time as a master’s student here at UMass Amherst,” says Jane Kent, professor and chair of the department of kinesiology. “She has had a positive impact with her research as well as by her contributions to undergraduate teaching. Receipt of this national award is the top honor for an MS student in our field, and one that is very well deserved! We are delighted that she is going to stay on to pursue her Ph.D. in our physical activity and h`ealth program.”

Other students who received recognition from the AKA include: Paige Richmond (Undergraduate Award), Liam Fitzgerald (Doctoral Scholar Award), and Jacob Banks (Graduate Writing Award).

These awards, from nominations by AKA member departments, are given each year to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students to recognize academic excellence and promote kinesiology and its related fields.

“Jacob, Liam and Paige exemplify the level of excellence and commitment shown by the very best of our students,” adds Kent. “It is wonderful to have them recognized for their work. Congratulations to each of them!”

The AKA is made up of kinesiology departments in higher education institutions across the U.S., and its mission is to promote and enhance kinesiology as a unified field of study.