Molly Gift receives award at state VAHPERD conference

Radford University recent graduate Molly Gift of Centreville received an Outstanding Student Major Award at the 2013 Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (VAHPERD) state convention in Virginia Beach in November.

Gift graduated from RU in December with a degree in exercise, sport and health education with a concentration in health and physical education.

"This award makes me realize that starting a career in physical and health education is exactly where I need to be" Gift said. "Receiving this award makes me want to keep working hard on my job search and eventually in my own school. I will continue to represent Radford University throughout my career and I am so blessed that my professors nominated me for this award. I would be nowhere without them."

In 2013, Gift served on the VAHPERD board and organized a student session at the state conference. VAHPERD is the professional organization for health, physical education, recreation, dance and sport educators.

Radford alumna Vonnie Colvin '73 also was honored at the conference with the College/University Physical Education Teacher of the Year award.

Four RU faculty and six students attended the VAHPERD state conference, said Anna DeVito, an assistant professor in RU's Department of Health & Human Performance. Health and Human Performance Instructor Steve Shelton and alumna Emily Jones Madden presented a session on documenting learning while evaluating students during regular activity with the use of "elementary evidence."

In addition, DeVito and Health and Human Performance Associate Professor Kevin Ayers gave a sport management presentation titled "It's Not Against the Rules (But still pretty sketchy): Common Bad Practices in Athletic Departments." 

RU faculty and students are actively involved in VAHPERD. In September, RU hosted more than 100 health and physical education professionals from regional K-12 schools at a regional VAHPERD workshop. Representatives from 28 southwest Virginia school divisions participated in the workshop as well as health and physical education students and instructors from RU, Emory & Henry College, Ferrum College, Liberty University and Averett University.