Original Coverage & Source Attribution: wkuherald.com
Dozens of energetic students met at the Augenstein Alumni Plaza on Wednesday morning to kick off the College of Health and Human Services’ inaugural Exercise is Medicine Walk.
This walk is part of a greater initiative presented by CHHS Dean Tania Basta as part of the American College of Sports Medicine, professor of exercise science and kinesiology Mark Schafer said.
He explained that this program “encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community.”
WKU Student Wellness Navigator Julie Jones handed out red towels and threw squishy Big Reds into the crowd. She also kicked off the event with a celebratory red towel wave, hyping up students and faculty.
Big Red joined the WKU dance and cheer teams to lead participants in stretches before the trek down the Hill. Students set down their backpacks and stretched their quads, calves and hamstrings as they prepared to walk.
After the stretches, Schafer thanked the university and CHHS for the opportunity to start this program.
“This isn’t just a beginning… it’s a launch,” Schafer said. “And to have the university support that is really special.”
Schafer then instructed students to follow the dance and cheer teams as they began their walk down the Avenue of Champions sidewalk.
Many students felt excited about this institutional push toward exercise.
“I’m here to raise awareness for exercise and wellness,” sophomore exercise-science major Neely Clark said. “I think that college kids lack initiative when it comes to investing in their health, and this program is a way to get us motivated.”
Similarly, sophomore exercise-science major Lily Neal thought the event was a great way to get people outside.
“It is latching onto a greater initiative to get people moving,” she said.
Participants walked down the Hill to finally stop in front of the WKU Preston Center. In the grass, Big Red led attendees in jumping jacks and squats to cool down the workout.
“This truly is a great program,” Neal said. “I’m excited.”
