News

A study three years ago in which kinesiology researcher Phil Tomporowski and Catherine Davis of the Medical College of Georgia found that kids who took part in a regular physical activity program showed increased cognitive performance and brain function, was cited in an October 16 *Philadelphia Inquirer* story on new research that confirmed those findings.

Five College of Education graduates were recognized for their career achievements and community leadership with 2014-15 alumni awards at the college's second annual Donor Appreciation and Alumni Awards Dinner Oct. 3 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Congratulations to this year's award winners: Whitney Myers, Ian Altman, Kimber Shelton, Tonya Harris Cornileus and Mark Slonaker.

COE professors direct an after-school activity program for Clarke County elementary students which will increase their heart rates as well as help with homework and comprehension reports a story in the October 14 *Flagpole.*

University of Georgia kinesiology researcher Jarrod Call and Georgia Institute of Technology bioengineering researcher Robert Guldberg have received a Georgia Partners in Regenerative Medicine one-year seed grant of $70,000 to study the use of stem cells to improve muscle recovery after injury.

In her new job, Dionne Cross Francis realized she had more questions than answers. To find solutions, she ended up at the College of Education's educational psychology department to study applied cognition and development.

Graduate student Jamil M. Gilliam has been selected to be the recipient of the 2014 Louise McBee Award from the Athens Area Psychological Association. She will be presented the award at the AAPA's annual legislative breakfast Dec. 5 at the Athens Country Club.

North Oconee County High School's **Tim Griffeth** (BSEd '04, MAL '10) is named Oconee County Teacher of the Year, reports an October 14 *Athens Banner-Herald* story. Griffeth earned a bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure services from the College of Education.

A recent UGA College of Education study says college weight gain is greatly overrated, reports the *Red & Black*. "There is a lot of hype that surrounds the Freshman 15," says Michael Fedewa, a fourth-year exercise physiology doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology.

​Throughout October, a group of science and mathematics teachers from Thailand will learn about classroom structure, curriculum and the latest teaching methods at the College of Education, as part of a program to increase the country's STEM education efforts.