Two groups of Cal State San Bernardino kinesiology students received first- and third-place awards for their presentations at the 2021 International Virtual Conference, held by the International Organization for Health, Sports, and Kinesiology (IOHSK) and attended virtually by more than 20,000 people from 95 countries.

The two groups were among 17 CSUSB kinesiology students in six groups who gave oral presentations at the conference, which was held on Oct. 7-9, said kinesiology professor Hosung So, who served as a mentor to each of the groups.

“It has been my honor and pleasure working with undergraduate students and to have participated in the international conference,” So said. “I believe and hope the experience our students had will be a good foundation for the development of their future research and creative activities, critical thinking, professional skills, career success, and contributions to the lifelong educator in the field of health, sports, and kinesiology. I sincerely appreciate the Office of Student Research (OSR) at CSUSB for their continued support and resources available for our students.” 

Students Katherine Walker, Christian Briceno and Shaun Cannady received a $500 first-place scholarship award for their research critique on “Perspectives of Students with Disabilities Toward Physical Education: A Qualitive Inquiry Review,” So said.

A second group of students, Juan Carlos and Kassandra Villalobos, placed third and received a $200 scholarship award for their research critique “Parents and Children’s Physical Activity Relationship.”

The two winning student groups were in the undergraduate research critique presentation category, So said.

"Overall, the HIP was very beneficial for me. Typically, I would not participate in research similar to this on my own prerogative, so it was something out of my comfort zone,” said Walker. “I feel as though I have gained valuable knowledge for my future field regarding the article I chose as well as knowledge regarding working with other people."

"My experience with HIP was very beneficial to my educational career because I was able to participate in an international conference and see other people's work from different universities around the world. I also was able to learn how to breakdown an abstract and explain it in a presentation form working alongside a partner,” said Carlos. “This kind of work will help me down the road with working with others and will also look great in my career when I apply for my credential program as well as any jobs I might apply for in the future."
"I have never taken a part of undergraduate research, so I was intimidated at first. I feel that this conference allowed me to not only become more professionally developed, but after receiving third place it made me feel like what I have to say actually matters!” said Villalobos. “As a future APE teacher, this is extremely motivational because it makes me feel like perhaps the perspective of PE can be positively changed by providing great supporting research."

The other student participants were:

  • Michael Grimes, Cheyenne Wood, Ivan Magana, Moira O’Neill – research critique on “Stereotypical Views of Beauty and Boys Still Not Letting Girls Play: A Student-Centered Curriculum for Young Girls Through an After-School Activist Approach.”
  • Humberto Magana, Mason Roach and Matthew Thoe – research critique on “Effects of Resistance Training on Tendon Mechanical Properties and Rapid Force Production in Prepubertal Children.”
  • Bobby Wiley – research critique on “Health-Related Physical Fitness and Physical Activity in Elementary School Students.”
  • Vanessa Gonzalez, Eric Serrano, Francis Oppong and Richard Layos – research critique on “How Diet and Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps Influence Behavior.”

“All the student presenters are from KINE4730 (instructional strategies in physical education) in the physical education and adapted physical education (PEAPE) concentration. They participated in the conference and presentation competition as part of high impact practices (HIPs),” So said. “From the beginning of fall 2021, students collaboratively prepared for the research critique presentations using critical thinking, academic and professional writing skills, and instructional technology materials.”

Each presentation was reviewed by the IOHSK conference evaluation committee members, consisted of 25 internationally recognized scholars in the field of health, sports, and kinesiology, So said.

Established in 2020, IOHSK is multilingual, multiethnic, multicultural, and comprises universities, colleges, institutions, and individual members from across the globe. As of November 2021, IOHSK has nearly 9,000 individual members from 96 countries and over 800 registered and partnered universities, colleges, and institutions around the world. For more information visit the IOHSK website and its Facebook page.