West Virginia University’s Dr. Linda Carson will receive the Margie R. Hanson Elementary Physical Education Distinguished Service Award from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education during the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Carson, Ware Distinguished Professor Emerita, has devoted her career to promoting healthy preferences for young children and the adults who make decisions on their behalf.

Carson earned her undergraduate and master’s degree from Slippery Rock University and her doctoral degree in childhood motor development from WVU.

She taught in New Jersey public schools and at Purdue University before beginning a 30-year career at WVU.

As the former director of the West Virginia Motor Development Center, Carson developed 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-based and water-based learning environments, earning recognition for involving family members as play partners.

Carson is also the founder of Choosy Kids, a company that uses the character “Choosy” to promote healthy decision making and active learning. Carson has written children’s music and other resource materials with embedded health messages showcasing the character.

Choosy Kids recently partnered with Lakeshore Learning Materials to help early childhood educators and allied health professionals address childhood obesity in young children.

In addition, Carson has served as an expert trainer for the obesity prevention initiatives, “I Am Moving, I Am Learning” and “Little Voices for Healthy Choices,” launched nationwide by the Office of Head Start.

Carson served on the leadership team of West Virginia Games for Health, a series of statewide projects based on the team’s pioneering research demonstrating significant changes in the health indicators of obese children as a result of playing active video games.

She currently serves on the advisory board of Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play, headquartered in Reston, Va.

A national recognition, the Margie R. Hanson Elementary Physical Education Distinguished Service Award is given to professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of physical education for children.

The award is supported through donations to the Margie R. Hanson Fund.

Hanson, a dedicated AAHPERD member for 26 years, was a pioneer in promoting physical education for children through her own teaching and her advocacy and AAHPERD program support.

Carson will be recognized at the NASPE Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, March 19, at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Other honorees that evening include the National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for Elementary, Middle and High School, the National Physical Education Administrator of the Year as well as the Athletic Director of the Year Award.

NASPE is the pre-eminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity. It is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport.

NASPE’s 15,000 members include K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers and college and university faculty who prepare professionals in all of these areas.

NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up AAHPERD.

For more information visit www.naspeinfo.org or contact Paula Keyes Kun at 703-476-3461 or pkun@aahperd.org.

-WVU-

03/16/10

CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu

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