Springfield College Alumni Return to East Campus for Youth in Motion
By: Damon Markiewicz
Each fall, Springfield College alumni working as high school physical educators, health educators, and school counselors, bring their students to East Campus to take part in the annual Youth in Motion Program.
The day is hosted by the Springfield College Department of Physical Education and Health Education, in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations, and Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Youth in Motion has been designed to facilitate leadership development and career exploration for high school sophomores and juniors. In addition, the program provides professional development opportunities for teachers and counselors. It’s a day where both students and their leaders can be challenged to step out of their comfort zones, in a very supportive way, which makes East Campus the perfect setting.
“Youth in Motion is an opportunity for students to engage in leadership opportunities with peers of their own age that they don't already know,” explained Tab Bassett ’93, who is a physical education teacher at David Prouty High School in Spencer, Mass. “This helps each of the students showcase their leadership qualities in an environment that isn't familiar to them, which in turn allows them to stretch their own comfort zone of leadership. East Campus is a great spot for this skill acquisition because the East Campus facilitators assist with encouraging the attendees to succeed, and they help self-assess what did and didn't work. The participants can then apply those learned skills to the leadership roles they already have.”
For Merylina Santiago Asselin '92, G'00, she is a successful school counselor at Westfield High School, and a long-time resident of Springfield. She has used the Youth in Motion experience at East Campus as a way to expose her students to the college experience. After witnessing her students take part in leadership training on the East Campus challenge course, she is convinced more than ever that this type of learning environment is the perfect way to introduce high school students to opportunities in higher education.
“East Campus is Springfield College's best kept secret,” explained Asselin. “It starts with the great Springfield College student facilitators leading the program. You have this beautiful outdoor classroom that just provides the perfect extension of the main campus, and the students that attend Youth in Motion feel the supportive environment that East Campus provides.”
Both Bassett and Asselin are two alumni who recognize the relationships they have established with their students helps lead them into a healthier future. When planning for the Youth in Motion experience, they focus on students who embody the Humanics philosophy, and who would make great ambassadors for healthy, physically active lifestyles. Before arriving at East Campus, Bassett and Asselin share their own stories about what makes Springfield College and East Campus special to them.
“I personally can't stop smiling when I know I am headed to East Campus and Youth in Motion,” explained Bassett. “This is because I know how important it is to continue to be the teacher I promised myself I would be for my students. As I return to campus, the environment brings back the joy of why I went into teaching, and that helps me stay motivated to be the best person I can be for my students. The Youth in Motion program at East Campus allows me to leave with some new skills to put in my bag of tricks for teaching. These are messages I share with my students.”
For Asselin, she has used the professional development learning experiences gained from attending Youth in Motion at East Campus as springboards to enjoy accomplishments such as Western Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year in 2017, and Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year in 2018.
“Springfield College propelled me into a career in school counseling where my compass is the Humanics philosophy,” explained Asselin. “I have had the opportunity to collaborate professionally with numerous alums throughout the years which has been very fulfilling. SC has helped make me the person and educator I am today.”
Eleven years ago, Chair of the Department of Physical Education and Health Education Michelle Moosbrugger '00, PhD '06, was at the forefront of starting the Youth in Motion program at East Campus. Over the years, she has witnessed the positive results. Moosbrugger has been joined by Associate Professor of Physical Education and Health Education Steven W. Groccia '00, PhD '13, in leading the efforts to solidify the program’s growth.
“We have seen more than 40 students, who have attended Youth in Motion over the years, end up enrolling at Springfield College,” explained Moosbrugger. “We truly feel that when they first step on East Campus, and be a part of the fall program, it allows students to explore their future in a very comfortable setting.”
For Groccia, he appreciates the joint efforts it takes to create such a supportive, educational environment that allows for students to grow and explore, and for alumni to always want to come back and bring back the next generation of triangles.
“We have such a great collaboration of so many people that make this program what it is,” explained Groccia. “From the East Campus Leadership of Ben Taylor ’99, G’16, and Angela Veatch, G’07, to Alumni Relations Interim Director Maria D'Agostino Crawford '91. All of the faculty within the School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership. The Career Center. And of course, the alumni who return home. It’s everyone pulling together to make sure the students we welcome to East Campus have the very best experience possible.”
