Congratulations to SHAPE America Southern District Award Winners

NCAAHPERD-SM would like to extend our congratulations to three members of NCAAHPERD-SM who have recently been named SHAPE America Southern District award winners. Ms. Beth Arney, Ms. Mary McCarley, and Dr. Carol Smith will be recognized at the Southern District Convention in Williamsburg (VA) in February.

Ms. Beth Arney, Western Carolina University

Ms. Beth Arney is the 2016 SHAPE America Southern District award winner for the Future Professional of the Year. Ms. Arney is a recent health and physical education graduate from Western Carolina University with a degree in Health and Physical Education. On the WCU campus Beth served as a resident assistant, orientation counselor, and as a WCU tour guide. She also served as secretary of the HPE Majors Club, worked on the Allied Professions Advancement Council, and was the student representative on the College of Education’s Dean Search Committee.

Ms. Arney earned the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship and the Ron Morrow Scholarship from the WCU Health and Physical Education department. Her scholarship record is commendable graduating with a 3.77 GPA. She was also named the Alice Benton Award Outstanding Physical Education Major this past spring at Western Carolina University. Finally, Ms. Arney serves as the Future Professional Representative on Southern District Leadership Council and attended the 2014 national advocacy Speak Out Day.

Ms. Mary McCarley, Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences (Charlotte, NC)

Ms. Mary McCarley (Health Educator at Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences) is the 2016 High School SHAPE America Southern District Teacher of the Year in Health Education. At the Hawthorne Academy, Ms. McCarley creates a welcoming and engaging student-centered environment with a focus on real-world learning based on personal interest and self-exploration. In her 13^th year, she is a mentor teacher, and partners with Mecklenburg County ABC Board to create standard-based presentations for health education and has partnered with Talk It out North Carolina to create online alcohol awareness program. Ms. McCarley recently received a graduate degree in health education from East Carolina University.

Dr. Carol A. Smith, Elon University

Dr. Carol Smith is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Health & Human Performance at Elon University (NC) and recipient of the 2016 SHAPE America Southern District Honor Award. She teaches Outdoor/Adventure Based Learning, Physical Education (pedagogy and activity), Health Education, and Dance at Elon University. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts (B.S. in Physical Education Teacher Education), Frostburg State University (M.Ed. in Health & Physical Education), and Texas A&M University (Ph.D. in Kinesiology, concentration in Outdoor Education).

Dr. Smith has been actively involved in state, district, and national professional organizations for many years.  She served as President of NCAAHPERD-SM in 2013 and Vice President of the Division of Sport and Leisure in AAHPERD Southern District in 2014.  She also has completed a number of presentations and publications in the areas of physical education and adventure based learning.

Finally, over the years Dr. Smith has won numerous awards including the University Physical Education Teacher of the Year in North Carolina and the prestigious Julian Smith Award for leadership in outdoor education from AAPAR/AAHPERD.