Kinesiology Club set for fall 2016

Department to receive school funding for club in the coming semester

For those who are a kinesiology major, minor or anyone interested in the field of human movement, be sure to look for the Kinesiology Club, which will start in the fall semester of 2016. The Kinesiology Club is dedicated to showing students what kinesiology is and to promoting the healthy values of exercise in a professional manner. Jessica Vlisides (’17) and Alec “AJ” Thomson (’17) have begun creating the opportunity for kinesiology students to experience the different sides of the health professional world. Many interactions of the club will come to form on the campus and in Holland communities.

“[Some events] will be for Hope’s campus and the Holland community and will take the form of teaching the community about health and exercise, which will give us a chance to practice the techniques and test what we have learned in our kinesiology courses,” Vlisides said.

“Other events will take the form of public social events with some form of Health awareness and education integrated where the members of the club will have an opportunity to be an instructor and teach novice individuals about the importance of our major. We will also plan events geared toward the students, which allows them to explore the field of kinesiology and have fun.”

A major aspect of the club is the trips that will be organized for action in future.

“We are looking to take trips to the Michigan America College of Sports Medicine conference in Gaylord, the Midwest ACSM in Fort Wayne, Henry Ford Hospital cardiac rehabilitation unit in Detroit and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,” Vlisides said.

The kinesiology department had great success in the past ACSM conference in Gaylord, Michigan, where the majority of students who went presented their research. She also hinted at the possibility of a spring break trip for the club and noted that Gatorade Performance Labs in Chicago could be the first stop. Perks of joining the club would include research opportunities, exploration of going forward into the profession after Hope and listening to various speakers that the club will bring in. There are over 45 people interested in the club and with its leadership, it should also grow in its first semester.

“[I am] very excited for the students for bringing this into action. A Kinesiology club has been overdue. I hope that we can find more time for research options, particularly through metabolism, so we can take it further,” Stein Slette, one of the club advisors, said. Professor Slette also looks forward to seeing increased use of Hope College’s kinesiology lab for the club’s research.

The club, once sponsored in the fall, will meet once a month. Members will be able to vote and make decisions on club ideas, trips etc. Thomson will be the president starting in the fall, but vice president, secretary and treasurer positions will be available for kinesiology majors and minors. For more information on the club board positions, email jessica.vlisides@hope.edu and alec.thomson@hope.edu.