PSU Magazine Fall 1992

"The conferences are a chance for elementary school teachers to recharge their batteries and generate more creativity in their programs," says Zehrung. "We in physical education at the elementary level tend to be really isolated." Also, the conferences help teachers become more active politically, to push for positive changes in elementary– level physical education. "The current group of elementary kids has been the least-fit generation of youth in the history of our country, for varied reasons. Physical education has been de-empha ized over the years," Zehrung says. "From my perspective, we've been our own worst enemies in the past, and have done a terrible job in promoting health and physical education in our schools." As a result of the conferences, more elementary physical education teachers throughout the Portland area and beyond are getting together to exchange teaching methods and discuss is ues. The result: youngsters are finally starting to get more quality phys,ical education. Says Zehrung, a 1989 Outstanding Alum of the School of HHP, "It's all been a perfect example of the sym– biotic relationship between the School · and our volunteer council. It demon– strates the mission of the university and its community outreach." Don Zehrung STEVE DIPAOLA lOPSU Jane Loverin Jane Loverin, associate executive director of the Metro Family YMCA in southwest Portland, enjoys talking about her involvement in one of the School of HHP's mo t important research projects. Loverin, who received her M.S.T. degree in health and physical educa– tion from PSU in 1978, joined the Metro Y staff in 1986 after six and one– half years at the Salem YMCA. She already was familiar with the Metro Y's emphasis on cardiovascular fitness-particularly for older adu lts. And Loverin was aware of the widespread interest several PSU faculty members had in improving exercise techniques for the elderly. So, the Metro YMCA was the per– fect site for a 1988 study conducted by Schendel, Tichy, Milan Svoboda, Gary Brodowicz, Loam Robert on, and others, along with nationally renowned exercise physiologist Herbert DeVries of the University of Southern California. The project focused on finding safer methods of measuring the fitness levels of elderly adults. Loverin oversaw the YMCA's participation in the project and helped PSU researchers monitor the participants, who worked out on exercycles. Results were encouraging. Research– ers came away with a better under- standing of how to monitor elderly adults' exercise capabilities and can thu plan better training program for senior adults. "Results of the study were printed in– ternationally and, nationally, it led to the YMCA putting more emphasis on working with active but frail seniors," says Loverin. Some of the original participants of the study, who are in their 80s today, continue to participate in the Y's specially designed exercise program. In addition to the YMCA's partici– pation in the PSU/DeVries studies, the organization has-through the help of the School of HHP-been able to design employee fitness programs for corporations and governmental agen– cies throughout the Northwest. Groups such as Bonneville Power Administra– tion, Mentor Graphics Corp., and Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. gained early interest in employee fitness programs through the School's annual conferences on fitness in business. "At the time, little was being done in Portland by employers to promote employee fitness," Schendel says. "We played a role in focusing attention on building employee wellness programs that benefit both the employee and the employer." D (Brian White, a Portland freelance writer, is a regular contributor to PSU Magazine .)