NEWS

Health and Fitness Experience Class: A chance to gain credit and fitness

Alisa Chmerenko
Contributor

Dr. Kiela Samuels teaches the PEA 115: Health and Fitness Experience class at WCC. The course will be offered during the summer semester between May 6 and August 22. Alisa Chmerenko | Washtenaw

For students who enjoy working out or are looking for a way to stay fit over the summer, WCC gives the opportunity to gain credit while exercising at the Health & Fitness Center.

The PEA 115: Health and Fitness Experience class helps students set physical goals and work toward them—the latest iteration of the class being offered this summer starting May 6 in the Health and Fitness Center.

The class features support from trainers who create a fitness plan and explain how the equipment works, and teachers who motivate students plus guide them through the semester.

Students who are 18 years and older, enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours have a chance to take a class.

While the class features a minimal amount of writing, students are required to document their workouts on Blackboard plus take a quiz at the beginning and end of the course to ask if their goals have been achieved.

Dr. Kiela Samuels is a professional pharmacist, educator, and entrepreneur—who also just so happens to teach PEA 115.

“My expectation is for them [students] to get over to that health and fitness center at least 15 times,” Samuels said in regards to what she expected out of those who signed up for the course.

Samuels has a strategy to keep students engaged and motivated: giving them the ability to win a free guest pass if they keep up with their academic work. She shares that students love and tend to have positive feelings about winning a prize.

“The benefit of the class is [consistently] making a habit of exercising,” said Samuels about the advantages of taking PEA 115.

Exercising weekly also helps with weight management, strengthening bones and muscles, increases one’s chances of living longer, and has many more positive perks according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Wayne Brown III, a previous PEA 115 student, shared that working out helped him with reducing stress, feeling better, and overall mental stability.

“I think everybody should take [the course],” Brown said.