Trent agrees. “From the first day I stepped on campus,” he said, “I felt that the professors and faculty within the department, specifically the profs who teach exercise science, were genuinely concerned about my academic progress and career aspirations.” Both students were able to work this year on campus as personal trainers and said the new facilities in the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex—including the new labs, new fitness rooms and more—were invaluable assets in that work. “It is reassuring to know that the equipment we are using, especially in our exercise laboratory, is top notch,” said Trent. “I would put our facilities and equipment against any other college or university in the nation.”
HANDS ON Trent worked this year with a recreational athlete who had suffered a torn hamstring, while Annika worked with a client with multiple sclerosis (MS). “Not only have I been stretched to come up with unique workout patterns, but I’ve learned so much about identifying with people and how to provide them with measurable goals,” Annika said. “Every single person has their own fears, expectations and reservations. As a physical therapist, I have to know how to work with that. People with MS have a lot of barriers to exercise. If I can help them move beyond their fears, I feel like I have accomplished something big.”
Trent, a varsity basketball player who struggled with his own injury, a broken foot, his senior year, concurred. “It was great to be able to apply the things we learn in class to our sessions with our clients,” he said. “It definitely helps to solidify the important concepts within our field. The hardest thing I found out was judging the exertion level of my client. Oftentimes, I had to flat-out ask my client if the exercises were too difficult because I wasn’t sure based on their expressions. That is an aspect that cannot be learned in the classroom.” Such comments are music to Professor Bolt’s ears: “We believe our major is a great option for Christian young people who want to explore God’s gifts of movement and health and leisure,” he said, “and we hope the new name will open up our department to even more students.”
WEB EXCLUSIVE
Check out www.calvin.edu/verge for a tour of the human performance lab and more facility pics.
KINESIOLOGY MAJORS
MINORS
Exercise science Sport management K-12 education Therapeutic recreation Recreation/leadership Pre-professional programs
Dance Health education Kinesiology
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