ASU students, in collaboration with the SHAPE club, hosted an event to encourage physical activity and promote wellness within the university community.
Jason Shumaker, president of the SHAPE club and a junior in physical education, shared that the club, re-established in fall 2024, focuses on community outreach and educating students about physical literacy. SHAPE stands for Students for Health and Physical Education and combines fitness with the scientific understanding of physical health.
Crystal Diego, a junior studying physical education, worked with another ASU student to organize the field day event at the Sun Devil Fitness Center on the Tempe campus. The event, part of a class project, aimed to incorporate physical activity into the community. Diego explained that they chose a field day, featuring activities often seen in elementary schools, such as parachute games, tug-of-war, and soccer, to engage students in fun and nostalgic physical activities.
“It brings out fun,” Diego said. “As adults, it brings back memories of being physically active as kids.”
Christopher Yee, a junior in physical education, emphasized that events like the field day not only provide physical benefits but also help bring ASU students together. “By hosting a field day, we’re inviting everyone in this community at ASU—students, faculty, family, and parents—to come out and have fun,” Yee said.
Diego also pointed out that regular physical activity can help prevent many health problems people often face later in life. According to the CDC, engaging in at least 150 minutes of exercise a week can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Alexandra Lorenz, a professor in the physical education program at the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, stressed the importance of physical education. She noted that it is the mission of physical educators to promote lifelong physical activity. “It improves all areas of life, including mental and physical well-being. You can’t do what you love if you’re not healthy,” Lorenz said.
Shumaker mentioned that the SHAPE club has held various events throughout the year, including a volunteer field day with Broadmor Elementary School, and plans to expand its outreach in the upcoming semester. He highlighted that hosting events like the field day not only educates students about physical wellness but also teaches them how to lead a P.E. class. “We want to bring ideas about lesson planning and fun activities into schools,” Shumaker said.
Shumaker hopes the event will spark discussions on the importance of physical wellness and the benefits of outdoor exercise. “Physical education is the most important thing because, at the end of the day, our health and body maintenance carry us through life,” Shumaker said.
