Student named one of country's top physical education majors

A kinesiology student has been named one of the top physical education majors by the country's largest organization of physical education professionals.

Nick Vena, a bachelor's degree student in health and physical education, has been named the Outstanding Major of the Year by the Society of Health and Physical Educators. This annual award honors outstanding undergraduate students in the fields of health, physical education, recreation and dance. Vena plans to graduate this spring.

Vena was nominated by faculty in the Department of Kinesiology.

"I'm truly honored to be recognized by the head of the program and my professors for this very prestigious award," said Vena, who has wanted to be a health and physical education teacher since he was in the first grade. "The program and my professors have prepared me well for a position in health and physical education."

Vena is also a shot putter with the University of Georgia track and field team who placed 15th at the 2015 NCAA indoor championships, and is also a two-time ACC outdoor champion in shot put and discus. Although his college eligibility ended last spring, he plans to continue to throw after college and eventually coach future athletes at the middle or high school level. Both academics and athletics are a high priority, he added. "The motto I've always lived by is, 'Take care of business,'" he said, "whether it is in the classroom or at the track."