Indiana State University Newsroom

The north gym of Indiana State University's Health and Human Services Building was full of energy during the P.E. Field Day for local elementary students.

ISU students in instructor Cate Walsh's Program Promotion in Physical Education class (P.E. 430) were challenged with planning the event for fourth- and fifth-graders from Terre Haute's Ouabache and Franklin elementary schools.

"I have my students plan a field day every spring," Walsh said. "It gives them a chance to see what it's like to be out in the real world as a P.E. instructor."

Aside from the seven ISU students who planned the event, there were also other student volunteers who helped carry out the day's activities.

Dwayne Lathan, a sophomore physical education major, said he heard about the event through one of his classes.

"When I heard about the event, I volunteered right away," said Lathan. "Besides getting credit for class, it is a lot of fun working with all of these kids."

Lathan was in charge of the dance station where he taught the children dance moves such as the "Cha-Cha slide" and "Cupid Shuffle."

This year's event brought 140 elementary students to campus. Brian Lonneman has taught physical education at Ouabache Elementary for 14 years. A 1990 graduate of ISU, the teacher was glad to return to his alma mater with his students.

"It is great that the kids get to take advantage of what the community has to offer them," Lonneman said. "Any chance the kids get a chance to move around is a wonderful opportunity."

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Contact: Cate Walsh, instructor of physical education, Indiana State University, 812-237-4058 or lwalsh2@isugw.indstate.edu

Writer: Jennifer Spector, media relations intern, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773 or jspector@indstate.edu

PHOTO Ashley Walker, a double major in physical education and health, talks with elementary students about healthy eating during the annual P.E. Field Day at Indiana State. (ISU/Kara Berchem)