The West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will induct three graduates into its 2016 Hall of Fame and name its 2016 Outstanding Alumnus on October 28 at the Erickson Alumni Center beginning with a reception from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the formal induction ceremony starting at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

The 2016 Hall of Fame inductees include Tom Habegger, Tom Martin and Chad Starkey. The college will present the 2016 Outstanding Alumnus Award to Linda Carson while Robert Wiegand will receive the Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors the College can bestow on a faculty or staff member.

Thomas A. Habegger
Thomas Habegger earned his B.S. degree in sport management from WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Science (1986). He earned his M.A. (1987) and Ph.D. (1997) in sport management from The Ohio State University and The Union Institute & University respectively. Habegger completes his 30th year as an associate of Columbus State in Columbus, Ohio, currently serving as the Dean of the Health & Human Services Division, a post he assumed in 2014. As the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Columbus State, Habegger directed the establishment of the athletic program beginning in 1987. By the time he left the Intercollegiate Athletics Department he had forged a nine-sport, nationally recognized program. Over the past three decades Habegger has coached various age groups of springboard divers and cheerleaders. He is also an advocate for the plight of racing greyhounds and is active with Ohio organizations saving, through adoption, retired racing greyhounds from being destroyed. Habegger enjoys spending his personal time with family, friends, working out and with his cat, Sooty, and resides in his hometown of Westerville.

Tom Martin
A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Tom Martin received his high school diploma from Penn Manor, bachelor’s degree from Davis and Elkins College and master’s/doctorate degrees from WVU. Martin earned his National “B” and “A” coaching licenses from the United States Soccer Federation and is a 40-year member of the NSCAA. As guest speaker, clinician and staff coach he has served on numerous NCAA national committees, regional/national rating and selecting committees and institutional panels. Martin’s coaching and teaching career has spanned five decades. He became head men’s soccer coach at James Madison University in 1986, remaining in that position for 29 consecutive years. Mart�n is a member of the Penn Manor, Davis and Elkins College, WVWC and Susquehanna Valley Chapter of PA Hall of Fames. Presently teaching in the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management at JM U, Tom and Cherylen, WVU graduate, have one son, Sean, Head Coach with the Loudoun Soccer Club, Leesburg, Virginia.

Chad Starkey
Chad Starkey received his bachelor’s degree from WVU (1982) and his master’s (1983) and doctoral (1988) degrees from Ohio University, where he also served as an instructor and athletic trainer. After working as the entry-level athletic training program director and associate professor at Northeastern University, he has returned to Ohio University where he is currently a professor, coordinator of the division of athletic training and the post-professional AT program director. Starkey has held numerous leadership roles in the athletic training industry, including having served as the First Chair of the NATA Education Council. Currently he is a Commissioner for the CAATE. Starkey has authored several textbooks and is a member of editorial boards for the Journal of Athletic Training and Journal of Sport Rehabilitation and served as an editor of the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd editions of Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. He also provided injury epidemiological services as a consultant to the National Basketball Association from 1984-2016. Starkey is a Fellow of the NATA. In 2009 Starkey was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame. He is married to Mary Connolly Starkey.

2016 Outstanding Alumnus

Linda Carson
Linda Carson is the Ware Distinguished Professor Emerita at WVU. Carson is the founder and CEO of Choosy Kids, LLC, a company devoted to developing healthy habits early in life. Choosy Kids (www.choosykids.com) has provided professional development training and educational resources to thousands of early care and education professionals nationally and internationally. Carson has received many honors and awards over her career for distinguished service to teaching excellence and health promotion. As a former faculty member of CPASS and director of the WVU Motor Development Center she advanced innovative learning laboratories for WVU students and award winning physical activity programs for infants, babies, toddlers, pre-school and elementary school-age children in both land- and water-based learning environments, earning recognition for involving family members as play partners. Carson has produced lively children’s music to promote active learning that has earned several Parents’ Choice Awards. Carson has served as an expert trainer for the early learning/health promotion initiatives, I Am Moving, I Am Learning and Little Voices for Healthy Choices, launched nationwide by the federal Office of Head Start.

Distinguished Service Award

Robert Wiegand
After graduating from the University of Georgia with his Ed.D. (1974), Robert Wiegand joined the faculty of the then WVU School of Physical Education. For 41 years, Wiegand taught at WVU primarily within the Physical Education Teacher Education program. During his tenure he served in a number of professional positions including as the school’s graduate coordinator and the PETE program coordinator. He has had numerous publications and professional presentations over the years as well as several significant grants. His greatest professional passion – which remained throughout his tenure – was in the instructional preparation of novice physical educators. Wiegand retired from CPASS in 2015. He is married to Dr. Catherine Nolan. Together they have two adult children, Tessa and Oliver, and continue to maintain their primary residence in Morgantown. During his retirement, he, perhaps foolishly, continues the impossible task of attempting to master the game of golf. Additionally, Wiegand enjoys travel, primarily in the pursuit of old friends and live music. With any spare time that might remain, he can usually be found reading.

-WVU-
kc/10/19/16

CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, Hall of Fame Event Coordinator
kimberly.cameon@mail.wvu.edu
304.293.0827

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