High School Students Gain Introduction to Kinesiology Concepts through Summer Pre-College Programs
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This July, kinesiology faculty and graduate students introduced high school students from around the world to core kinesiology concepts through a series of summer pre-college residential programs. Students enrolled in intensive, two-week courses on subjects that included Kinesiology: Pathway to the Medical Professions, Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond, and Sports Performance.
42 students from across the U.S. and six different countries enrolled in Kinesiology: Pathway to the Medical Professions, instructed by senior lecturer II Judi LaBranche. The two week-long course showed students how kinesiology can lead to a medical career, including research in physiology, metabolism, biomechanics, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, physical activity, and neuroscience.
“Back home in the Virgin Islands I play on a national soccer team,” said Charlotte Nairns, a student from the Virgin Islands. “Our doctor has a degree in kinesiology and has been teaching me a lot about it. It’s interesting to me, so I want to study it more. This program has allowed me to do that. I especially like how it’s hands on. We learn about a topic in the classroom and then we get to physically do what we just learned and apply it in real time.”
Hosted in the Totman Building by LaBranche and graduate student assistants, the program provided students with hands-on experience in dissections, health assessments, and current health guidelines.
“I’m a swimmer and a lot of these exercises will help me in my own training,” explained Noah Chetlen, who traveled from Hershey, Pennsylvania for the program. “We learned how to develop fitness plans and the science behind muscle fatigue and how to battle that. I’m looking forward to using that knowledge to make me a better swimmer.”
The Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond, instructed by doctoral candidate Ann-Marie Sylvia, focused on the human-animal connection and its benefit to mental and physical health with an emphasis on neurodivergent populations (e.g., autism, ADHD, anxiety, dementia). Hosted at Chestnut Woods Farm in Granby, MA, the course enrolled 16 high school students who were given the opportunity to perform field research and were trained to assist as side walkers or equine leaders for the youth involved.
“My research interest focuses on the intersection of physical activity and neurodivergence,” noted Sylvia. “We decided to run this program because it was the perfect opportunity to introduce interested high school students to the psychology of the human-animal bond and recognize the power of physical activity, not only for overall health outcomes, but also for the trait and characteristics of neurodivergence.”
Senior lecturer II and undergraduate program director Thomas St. Laurent led the course on Sports Performance. The program provided a hands-on opportunity for 12 high school students to enhance their own athletic performance and explore a career in sports performance. Students learned about different training techniques, engaged in skill workshops, and learned the science behind performance strategies. It also offered students a unique opportunity to utilize UMass Amherst’s on-campus training facilities for the practical sessions.
Students left excited to apply the advanced strategies they learned to their sports. One student shared, “I loved how we got to train like college athletes and understand what it takes to compete at a higher level. The workshops were eye-opening, and I feel more prepared than ever to pursue my goals!”
“The program aimed to teach them how to enhance their athletic abilities and give them a taste of college life and the supportive community they can expect from UMass,” said St. Laurent. “We’re excited to see these young athletes take their newfound skills and confidence back to their high school teams. We hope this experience will inspire them to consider UMass for their future college education. The department is excited to offer the program again next summer and is creating a Sports Performance training area to enhance the hands-on workshops we can offer.”
The Summer Pre-College Residential Programs are open to rising 10th through 12th graders. They allow students to experience college life and explore their interests in over 25 topics including STEM, design, business, and public health. Many students use the programs to explore UMass and the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, and to build experience for their college applications.
“After graduating from high school, I want to apply to nursing school,” said Ahsyra Robinson Noel of Boston, MA. “My school counselor told me about the Pre-College Program and helped me get in. This will be great to tell nursing schools about the experiences I had. This is a great opportunity outside of school to get a better understanding of what the medical field will be like.”
LaBranche was impressed with the overall level of student learning and instructional outcomes over the two weeks she instructed. “They did great,” she said. “We look forward to seeing some of these students as UMass students soon.”