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Thanks to student members of the Association of Physical Education in Kinesiology, or APEK, student organization at Western Illinois University, a few schools in Illinois will receive new equipment for physical education (P.E.) classes and activities. According to WIU Department of Kinesiology Instructor and APEK Advisor Kathi Clayton-Chaplain, students in the APEK organization started the professional development project two years ago. The goal of the project is to raise money to purchase P.E. equipment for schools in the state, she noted.
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WIU P.E. Student Project Raises Money to Purchase New Equipment for Schools in Need

December 12, 2016

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MACOMB, IL — Thanks to student members of the Association of Physical Education in Kinesiology, or APEK, student organization at Western Illinois University, a few schools in Illinois will receive new equipment for physical education (P.E.) classes and activities. According to WIU Department of Kinesiology Instructor and APEK Advisor Kathi Clayton-Chaplain, students in the APEK organization started the professional development project two years ago. The goal of the project is to raise money to purchase P.E. equipment for schools in the state, she noted.

"We got started on this project when representatives from an area school had asked if our department had any equipment they could have for their physical education classes (specifically badminton rackets)," Clayton-Chaplain explained. "They did not have a budget for equipment, and unfortunately, we could not donate equipment. So the students decided to raise money for Illinois schools that did not have the resources to buy equipment."

Over the past two years, APEK student members have raised funds to purchase raffle prizes (such as a 55-in. Smart television, an iPad, gift cards, etc.), and students then sold tickets at the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education and Dance (IAHPERD) conference in November and to many other individuals. Through the raffle, the students raised more than $2,000, and now they will determine which area schools will receive equipment, Clayton-Chaplain noted. Raffle prize winners were drawn last week at Western.

"One of the schools the students plan to donate equipment to is in the Chicago Public School (CPS) system; an alum of our program is teaching there," she said. "Trinity Lutheran Academy in Industry (IL) has no budget and no equipment, and another P.E. teacher from the Galesburg school district contacted us about badminton rackets for a new unit. We would also like to provide equipment to schools that, due to budget restraints, are having difficulties replacing or providing equipment."

Clayton-Chaplain added APEK student members also plan to send out notices to notify schools the group can accept equipment requests for P.E. programs.

"We will accept monetary donations to continue with the project, as we would like to make this an ongoing project, if possible," Clayton-Chaplain said. "Our physical education teacher education (PETE) students receive incredible support from the area school districts during their methods courses and field experience, and we have found that some of the schools have a tremendous supply of equipment, while at others, they have a limited supply or they just need updated equipment. We often bring new games and equipment with us during the teaching experience. One example of that is Tchoukball, which requires specific rebound nets. Even though the equipment is specific to one game, the benefits are amazing—throwing, catching, rebounding, reaction times, vigorous physical activity and the list goes on and on."

For more information, contact Clayton-Chaplain at (309) 298-1225 or via email at K-Clayton@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing