Certified student trainers available at Fitness Center

Winston-Salem State students can say ‘good-bye' to pricey trainers and monthly gym fees and seek assistance from the personal trainers on campus.   

The program was designed to help increase the knowledge of physical fitness and to help students get into shape.

Vanessa Hood, fitness center coordinator, created the program in 2006.  

"When I became the fitness center coordinator, I thought, ‘How could I serve 6,000 students with literally just two hands?'," Hood said.

Hood's solution was to use her own money to pay for students to get CPR and First Aid training to become certified personal trainers.

The program initially had three certified student trainers, but to date, 12 students have been certified.          

"We are looking for more individuals who are passionate about fitness that want to join us and become a trainer," Hood said.    

To become certified trainers, students must first meet the requirements.   

Under Hood's supervision, trainees are required to volunteer for 50 hours during their sophomore year to be considered for the program.

In addition to being a sophomore with at least 30 credit hours, the student must have and 2.5 GPA.

Other requirements are on the WSSU website under the  Campus Fitness link.  

"I don't mind having upper classmen as trainers, but I prefer sophomores because they have a few more years left and could really be a great help," Hood said.

Leah Balkeney, a senior nursing major from Monroe has been a certified trainer at WSSU for two years.

"It was an opportunity given to me by Hood because I love to workout," Balkeney said.

"I have been working out since high school, plus it's college experience, ‘So why not?'."

Balkeney said she usually works with clients on the weekends and sometimes on Wednesdays.

"We are still trying to build up our client list, but as of now, I am training five students," Balkeney said.

Travis McGhee, senior exercise science major from Birmingham, who is also a certified trainer,  has been training since August 2010.

"It has been a great experience," McGhee said.    

"It started off as a study tool, just another way for me to learn about the body, but then I started to fall in love with the profession."

McGhee trains about 50 students.   

"People wanted to get back in shape for homecoming, ladies want to be able to get in nice dresses, gentlemen want to get their body right for the winter," McGhee said.

"I like to think of myself as very approachable, but once it's time to workout and train, I'm all business."

 Students, faculty and staff seeking assistance from the trainers should know that there is more to just signing up and making an appointment with a trainer.  

They complete paperwork about their health and health- related issues.

They must also speak with their physician prior to beginning training.

"We don't take fitness and health lightly," Hood said.

"You will go through the same process that you would usually undergo when seeking assistance from other gyms and outside trainers."