LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) —Misericordia University celebrated the grand opening of its new Learning, Exercise and Performance (LEAP) Center Friday
The new center brings academics and athletics together under one roof, giving students in exercise science and other health sciences programs access to specialized learning spaces while providing student-athletes with a larger facility for strength and conditioning.
On the academic side, the LEAP Center is home to Misericordia’s new exercise science program, with laboratories and equipment designed to help students study human movement, physical performance and health. Tif Mulally, chair of exercise science at Misericordia University, said her vision for the program was shaped by how students learn and put their knowledge to use.
It seemed obvious to me that it’s not
“It seemed obvious to me that it’s not just sitting in the classroom and listening to someone else talk. It’s actually doing the hands-on stuff and getting involved in what we’re learning. It was the idea of getting students out of the classroom, out of the textbook, and actually applying all the things that they are able to learn. So whether it is to an athlete or a client, it’s just taking it a step further,” said Mulally.
Students can put that hands-on approach into practice in a physiology lab equipped to measure cardiovascular performance, oxygen consumption and metabolic rates. The lab also features an altitude training tent that simulates conditions at 8,000 feet above sea level and a Bod Pod used to measure body fat percentage.
Students can also study how the body moves in a biomechanics lab equipped with 3D motion analysis technology, force plates and tools that measure muscle activation. A separate clinical lab gives them space to practice skills before entering professional settings.
The benefits extend beyond the classroom,
The benefits extend beyond the classroom, with the LEAP Center serving more than 700 student-athletes across Misericordia’s 31 athletic teams. Chuck Edkins, executive director of athletics and recreation at Misericordia University, said the new facility expanded the school’s strength and conditioning space from 1,500 square feet to more than 6,000 square feet.
Edkins added that the expanded facility allows more student-athletes to train at once, making workouts more efficient for both athletes and training staff.
“Well, this is a game changer athletically and, obviously, a game changer in terms of the ability to offer a major in exercise science that is really up-and-coming, whether it’s strength, conditioning or research, whatever the case may be. It is a much-improved space for us to increase strength, reduce injury and move forward from there,” said Edkins.
Following the ceremony, visitors got a firsthand look
Following the ceremony, visitors got a firsthand look at the new facility during an open house and self-guided tours, exploring the spaces designed to support hands-on education and athletic performance.
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Misericordia opens LEAP Center, uniting exercise science labs with athlete training
