The Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion (KHP) honored three students this spring with the 2007-08 Hackensmith Awards. Jen Abel, Andrew Albers and Terry Clayton were recognized for outstanding work during their academic careers.
“These students exemplify what we look for when giving these awards,” said Melody Noland, the George and Betty Blanda Endowed Professor in Education and KHP department chair. “They each exhibit outstanding character, have demonstrated leadership, have maintained a high GPA and have shown the potential for professional development.”
Abel, a native of Fremont, Wis., received the Outstanding Graduate Student in Kinesiology and Health Promotion Award. A former physical education teacher at the middle-school and elementary levels, Abel is working toward her master’s degree and certification in teaching health education. With a perfect grade point average in her graduate work, she has served as a teaching assistant in KHP, and her master’s thesis topic is “The Relationship of Auto Commute Time to Body Mass Index, Level of Physical Activity and Health Behavior.”
Albers, a native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Kinesiology and Health Promotion Teacher Education Award. Albers, who has completed his coursework, has one semester of student teaching remaining in his program. His other academic honors include being inducted into the UK Athletics Frank G. Ham Society of Character and earning third-team Academic All-America status from ESPN the Magazine. A pitcher for the UK baseball team, Albers had a 2.40 earned-run average in 31 appearances during the 2008 season. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
Clayton, a native of Olmstead, Ky., earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Kinesiology and Health Promotion Exercise Science Award. Clayton, who lost his hearing at the age of 5, walked on to the UK football team and saw action in a number of games. He is a three-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and in 2006 received the Carol S. Adelstein Award given to a UK student who has overcome disabilities to achieve success. He also won the inaugural Rudy Award, which honors NCAA Division I student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment as members of their collegiate football teams.
The awards are named after Charles W. Hackensmith, a former professor in KHP. Hackensmith authored the book “The History of Physical Education,” which was published by Harper and Row in 1966.