Heath Pierce, M.Ed., RSCC*D, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, ACSM EP-C, interim assistant dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP) and associate clinical professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance, and Lyndie Kelley, B.S., coordinator of Strength and Conditioning, recently hosted the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Maine and New Hampshire State Clinic.
The event is hosted annually at UNE, but this year it was held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We truly missed the ability to shake hands with our colleagues and to learn together," stated Kelley. "Human to human interaction is a critical component of coaching, teaching, and presenting, so that was a challenge for us all. But, the leadership team at NSCA Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado were so great to work with and demonstrated immense agility in shifting our state clinic into a virtual format via Zoom."
The clinic provides high-quality, affordable, and local Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to fitness professionals by giving them top-notch access to industry experts and cutting-edge techniques and research. It is a day of professional development featuring round-table discussions, research presentation and networking.
UNE's Applied Exercise Science program is endorsed by the NSCA Education Recognition Program which recognizes and distinguishes schools with standardized, approved strength and conditioning or personal training curricula in undergraduate and graduate settings designed to prepare students for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications.
"When I was an applied exercise science student at UNE from 2007 through 2011, I attended several of these events," Kelley explained. "They became a cornerstone of my professional development in the field of strength and conditioning."
In addition to hosting the event, Pierce and Kelley gave a presentation on unique collaborations and partnerships at UNE that enhance the experiences of students and student-athletes.
The presentation, titled "Benchmarking your Program: Creating a Template & Partnership for Continued Success," highlighted the numerous ways that the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance and the Department of Athletics collaborate, as well as the specialized connection between strength & conditioning and applied exercise science.
Jamie Collins, a former assistant strength coach at UNE, and Christian Merritt, a former UNE hockey player and assistant strength coach, also made presentations.
One-hundred fifteen people from 31 states and three countries attended this year's event.
Heath Pierce is the NSCA's Northeast regional coordinator, responsible for Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec and New Brunswick.
"I would like to thank the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance, WCHP, and the Department of Athletics for their continued support in helping to sponsor NSCA state and regional events at UNE," Pierce commented.
Lyndie Kelley is the NSCA's Maine state director.
"We have had a long, distinguished lineage of NSCA involvement and leadership at UNE," Kelley commented. "I am extremely proud to be continuing the tradition."
