Western Colorado University Exercise and Sport Science

10/05/2026

Check out the ESS September highlights newsletter!

ESS Newsletter

10/02/2026

ESS 411 Wellness Elevated is in full swing! The students are gaining real, hands-on experience guiding community members toward their training and fitness goals.

10/02/2026

🫁🏃‍♀️ Experiential Learning in ESS 181!

A huge thank you to Professor Bryant Byrd for leading our VO₂ max and submaximal exercise testing session in ESS 181: Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science!

Our students had the opportunity to experience firsthand the different ways we can assess cardiorespiratory fitness, including a VO₂ max test, submaximal exercise testing (one-mile walking test). They learned how to use the results from the one-mile walking test to estimate their own VO₂ max.

This type of hands-on, experiential learning provides our students with valuable experience connecting classroom concepts to real-world exercise science practice.

Thank you, Professor Byrd, for sharing your expertise and creating such a valuable learning experience for our students! 🙌

10/02/2026

🧠⚽️ Mental Skills Lab in ESS 181!

Professor and Coach Donovan McMahill from Western Colorado University Wrestling recently visited ESS 181: Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science to introduce our students to the important role of mental performance in exercise and sport.

The session was interactive and experiential, giving students the opportunity to experience and practice different mental training skills, including imagery, self-talk, and attentional orientation.

A huge thank you to Professor and Coach Donovan McMahill for taking the time to share your knowledge, experience, and expertise with our students! We truly appreciate the opportunity to learn from you. 🙌

09/28/2026

09/25/2026

A big thank you to our Western Colorado University librarian, Tiffanie Wick, for providing a very useful and informative library session for our ESS 181: Foundations of Exercise & Sport Science students!

Students learned the basics of research, how to search for peer-reviewed articles, and about the many support services available through the library. This was a great opportunity for our students to build essential research skills that will support their academic success. 📚🔎🎓

09/25/2026

Students in ESS 353: Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community recently visited Gunnison Community School Elementary School and met with Ms. Parker, the coordinator for the Wednesday Workshop.

In a few weeks, some of these students will have the opportunity to work with the Wednesday Workshop and gain valuable real-world experience applying the WSCC (Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community) and CSPAP (Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program) models within a school setting.

We are grateful for this partnership and the opportunity for our students to connect classroom learning with meaningful, hands-on experiences in the community!

09/25/2026

A huge thank you to Elizabeth Spangler, an athletic trainer at Western Colorado Mountaineers, for speaking with our ESS 181: Foundations of Exercise & Sport Science students about a career in athletic training and her journey to becoming a college athletic trainer.

It was a very practical and informative session that gave our students valuable insight into the profession and what it takes to pursue a career in athletic training. Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your experience with our students! ⚕️🏃‍♀️🎓

09/22/2026

Students in ESS 353: Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community visited the Gunnison Parks & Recreation for a hands-on learning experience. Some of these students will be working with the after-school program in October.

Through this practicum, students are learning how schools, families, and communities can collaborate to increase physical activity and promote healthy lifestyles for youth.

Thank you, Gunnison Parks and Recreation, for providing our students with this valuable real-world learning opportunity! 🙏🙏🙏

09/22/2026

🏃‍♀️ Huge thank you to Mr. Kent at Crested Butte Community School Secondary Physical Education! 🙌

We really appreciate Mr. Kent welcoming our ESS 290 students to observe and participate in his eighth-grade PE class. Our students learned so much about how he structures lessons, manages the class, and creates an engaging learning environment.

Mr. Kent also took time after class to share his teaching philosophy and approach to planning physical education. It was a wonderful learning experience for our future PE teachers!

Thank you, Mr. Kent, for supporting and inspiring our future physical educators! 👏🏃‍♂️