A West Virginia University fitness and wellness instructor is in the running for a national teaching award.

Nancy Naternicola, a clinical instructor in the School of Physical Education, is one of 15 nominees from across the country for the American Council on Exercise Fitness Educator of the Year.

Its exciting to be nominated for the award and reflects well on the School of Physical Education and what faculty members are doing to promote healthy lifestyles,Naternicola said.

Being a finalist also validates Naternicolas efforts to get people off the couch and on their feet, she said.

Because the health status of West Virginia is not very good, if I can do anything toward educating people about the importance of adopting healthy habits, it would have a positive impact on the state,she added.

Naternicola, who lives in Fairmont, has been a faculty member in the School of Physical Education for four years. She manages the Stansbury Fitness Center and teaches nine courses ranging from aerobics to personal fitness instruction.

She has a bachelors degree in physical education and health from Fairmont State University and a masters degree in physical education teacher education from WVU .

The Fitness Educator of the Year award is part of the ACE Fitness Professional of the Year Awards, which were created in 1999 to publicly recognize the contribution fitness professionals have made to the fitness industry. Other awards include Personal Trainer of the Year and Group Fitness Instructor of the Year.

Award winners, who will receive a $2,500 scholarship toward continuing education, will be announced at the 24 th annual International Health, Racquet&Sportsclub Association convention in March in San Francisco.