West Virginia Wesleyan College alumna and Buckhannon native Catherine "Katie" Squires has brought her knowledge of sports and facility management back to her alma mater as its Wellness Center coordinator.
Squires earned her bachelor's degree in sports management in 2009, and obtained a master's in sports management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2011. As an undergraduate at Wesleyan, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and served as a swim meet coordinator and computer operator for various high school and college competitions.
At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Squires served as the aquatics graduate assistant, a position in which she oversaw the recreation aquatic programs and assisted with college, high school and YMCA swim meets.
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Squires
"When I went away to graduate school it really helped me understand how special the Wesleyan community is," Squires said. "The personal relationships you are able to build at a small liberal arts college is such a great thing and something I really missed while away. The chance to come back and reconnect with professors, staff and students I was close with while a student here has been wonderful."
In 2008, Squires spent a semester working at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., for an internship with the United States Olympic Committee. This unique experience gave Squires skills and knowledge she said she is using each day to make experiences at the Wellness Center the best they can be by overseeing the daily operation.
In addition, she also serves as a positive role model for students employed at the center and those interested in pursuing at career in sports and fitness. Because of her firsthand knowledge of Wesleyan and her educational and work background, Squires has the ability to relate to and help those around campus interested in pursuing a career in sports and fitness.
"We're fortunate to have such a great student worker staff here at the Wellness Center that I am able to interact with daily and help each of them reach their goals both here at Wesleyan and beyond," she said. "The opportunity for them to work at the Wellness Center will greatly benefit them as they begin their professional lives. Since joining the professional world, I know a work study position at a facility like this can be greatly beneficial."
Since beginning her role as the Wellness Center Coordinator, Squires has most enjoyed the positive reactions to the new facility.
"The new Wellness Center allows us to offer so many new opportunities to the Wesleyan community," Squires commented. "Not only have we been able to provide them a much larger workout facility, but we have added a free weight room that is open to all students, a group exercise room which enables us to offer many more classes and soon we hope to be starting seminars and incentive programs to better educate the Wesleyan Community about healthy living."
The new wellness center offers more than 20 pieces of cardio equipment, which includes treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines and rowing machines; a variety of strength training equipment; and a new stretching cage. The weight room features Max Racks, bench press and free weights. Group fitness classes include a variety of aerobics and Zumba.
"I encourage the Wesleyan community to come and take part of what we are offering at the Wellness Center because health and well-being is vital to everyone," Squires said. "This is a great opportunity to stay active and live a healthier lifestyle."
The Wesleyan Wellness Center is open to students, current and retired faculty and staff during the following hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 11 p.m. Sundays.
West Virginia Wesleyan is a private, four-year residential liberal arts college in Buckhannon. More information is available by contacting the Office of Admission at 304-473-8510 or visiting www.wvwc.edu.
