The largest gathering of physical education professionals in the country took place for the 128th National Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) in Charlotte from April 23-27, 2013.

VIP's for the convention included: Sam Kass, Executive Director of Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Initiative, Olympic Gold Medalist Edwin Moses, ESPN journalist and Aspen Institute's Tom Farrey, NBA Legend Len Elmore, former Panthers player, Eugene Robinson, national walking and cycling advocate and former host of "America's Walking" series on PBS, Mark Fenton, world-renowned performance psychologist and Co-Founder of the Human Performance Institute Jim Loehr, women's boxing coach Christy Halbert, Shellie Pfohl of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition, Patt Griffin from The GLSEN Sports Project, and tap dance icon Dianne Walker. Trending topics that were addressed included the recently launched Let's Move! Active Schools collaboration, the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, demonstrating teacher effectiveness, health-related fitness assessment, connecting to the Common Core Standards, bullying, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and much more. Plus, AAHPERD held a special tribute to honor the Alliance's and the U.S. Olympic Committee's first African American President, North Carolinian, Dr. Leroy T. Walker.

NCAAHPERD wants to thank the volunteers and everyone that made the convention a success! Our special thanks go out to Deb Kaclik and Marie Slussler, co-chairs of the Local Arrangement Committee for coordinating the efforts of the convention volunteers!