SRU hosts 50th annual SRUAHPERD Mini-Convention March 25
Feb. 10, 2020
Slippery Rock University will host the 50th annual SRUAHPERD Mini-Convention, a professional development expo for teachers and students in the wellness and physical and health education fields.
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- "Growth Through the Years" is a fitting theme for the 2020 Slippery Rock University Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Mini-Convention. The SRUAHPERD Mini-Convention, a professional development conference for health and physical education teachers, will celebrate the event's 50th anniversary, March 25 at Morrow Field House.
The event, which attracts more than 200 professionals and college students from across the region, is hosted by the SRU Physical and Health Education Department and is organized by the School Wellness Education Council, SRU's student-run health and wellness professional development organization previously known as SRUAHPERD. And while the acronym in the name of the event has remained the same, there have been plenty of changes to the profession during the last five decades.
"There have been a variety of changes to make physical education more valuable for students," said Brittany Andrews, a senior health and physical education major from South Park. "The approach is to focus on the whole child, not just playing games or sports, but everything that goes into being well, things like nutrition and emotional health."
Andrews and Lexi Douglas, a senior health and physical education major from Summerville, have been involved with hosting the event each of the last four years, but this year as SWEC co-presidents they are leading the organizing efforts. Andrews and Douglas are responsible for doing everything from reaching out to school districts, coordinating the schedule and decorating the conference area.
"We've been able to network with other professionals in our field and learn about what others are doing," Douglas said. "A lot of the teachers who come to the Mini-Convention become our mentors."
The duo was able to schedule a prominent keynote speaker, Judy LoBianco, who is the past president of SHAPE America, an organization that serves as the voice for more than 200,000 health and physical education professionals across the nation. LoBianco, a national consultant and owner of HPE Solutions LLC, will deliver a message related to the conference's theme of growth.
Registration, and a breakfast for SRU alumni, begins at 7:30 a.m. Opening remarks are scheduled for 8:30 a.m., followed by hourly presentations, lunch at noon, the keynote at 1 p.m., and additional presentations before concluding at 3 p.m. Teachers are encouraged to bring prospective students as there will be programs organized throughout the day for high school juniors and seniors who are interested in learning more about attending SRU.
Registration for the Mini-Convention is $25 for professionals and $12 for college students. People can register on the day of the event or by completing an online form, by clicking here. For more information about the Mini-Convention, click here or contact Andrews at: bna1003@sru.edu or 412.498.6431.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu