Applause — Kaila Shumar
Kaila Shumar
Kaila Shumar of Brownsville was honored as an Outstanding Health and Physical Education Major of the Year from Slippery Rock University by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) April 3 during the 129th annual AAHPERD National Convention and Expo in St. Louis, Mo.
The award recognizes outstanding undergraduate students majoring in any health, physical education, recreation, dance, sport, kinesiology, exercise science or physical wellness-related program at their college or university. All winners were nominated by their university and selected by AAHPERD to receive the honor. Colleges and universities can only nominate one student from each discipline to be recognized each year.
This year, more than 150 students from around the country will be honored at the Major of the Year Ceremony and Reception, which is sponsored by the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
During her collegiate years, Shumar was involved as a member of the Physical and Health Education Club, Fitness Integrated Teaching Club and Phi Epsilon Kappa Honorary. Shumar has been the secretary of the F.I.T. Club, organizing the state convention as well as mini convention workouts, weekly workouts and volunteer opportunities on and off campus. At the 2012 and 2013 state conventions, she was the leader of the F.I.T. Club workout that was designed to teach new and updated fitness activities to professionals and students.
At the state convention, Shumar was a presenter on the Proper Biomechanics of Circuit Training. This past fall, she coordinated and led the Shakin’ It For the Cure Zumbathon for breast cancer awareness as the lead zumba instructor held at Slippery Rock University. She was also the main presenter at a mini convention for the F.I.T. Club workouts and Zumba sessions, also chairing the hospitality committee providing food and drinks. She is now a mentor to the new officers of the F.I.T. Club, addressing any questions or concerns that they may have in planning events.
Shumar works for the Physical and Health Education Department and is a Zumba Fitness instructor for the university. She is student teaching in the Pittsburgh Public School District and will graduate in May with a degree in physical and healthy education K-12. She is a daughter of Ken and Diane Shumar.