Will Hoogendyk IV, Campus Carrier sports editor

There are many perks that come with being a student at Berry, including the use of on campus athletic and academic facilities. The Cage Center, built in 2008 is a building committed to the health and wellness of all students, staff members and faculty at Berry. Whether it is the pool, basketball courts, racquetball courts, indoor track or free weights and workout machines, The Cage has much to offer when it comes to fitness.

While students can use these facilities at their disposal, the Department of Recreation offers students the ability to get personal feedback on their health goals. Ava Buelow and Molly Heath both work in the Cage Center as Lead Nutrition Specialists and specialize in working with students looking to improve their nutrition.

“We give them one on one advice, like general lifestyle advice [and] we make sure it works for them,” Buelow said.

Students that fill out an interest form for getting a personal nutritionist will receive follow-up communication from either Buelow or Heath about setting up a consultation meeting. The consultation meeting with a nutritionist serves as a time where they can get to know you and find out more about what your goals are when it comes to nutrition.

“The main thing that we do is we meet with clients,” Heath said. “So people will be interested in nutrition services and sign up and one of the coaches will help them with whatever concerns they might have.”

Buelow and Heath are both Exercise Science majors who have noticed how much their studies have helped them when giving advice to new clients. Classes like KIN 280 and KIN 480 which are geared towards nutrition and sport nutrition respectively, have provided more information that Buelow and Heath use daily.

“I feel like that has been very helpful in expanding my knowledge as a nutrition coach,” Buelow said. “I’ve been able to help my athletes and give them more refined advice since taking those classes.”

While the personal training and nutrition programs are student supervised, all employees of these departments must pass certification tests to work as a nutritionist or trainer. To become a personal nutritionist, students must pass an American Academy of Sports Dieticians and Nutritionists certification test (AASDN). Personal trainers take a test that certifies them through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). 

Konrad Jacobs, the Fitness Coordinator for the Department of Recreation oversees a staff of 10 students that include personal trainers and group fitness instructors at the Cage Center. Jacobs, who has been in this role since 2016 serves as advisor to these students and gives them advice and direction when it comes to being a personal trainer for fellow students.

“The majority of people that we work with are true beginners or somewhat beginners,” Jacobs said. “People that are nervous to come into the weight room and people that want to have some help navigating the weight room and get them going for the rest of their lives.”

The same interest form that is used for personal nutrition can be used for a personal trainer. The form gets basic information from the student about when and how is the best way to reach them. Based on this information, Jacobs assigns a personal trainer to that student for an initial meeting. During the initial meeting, a personal trainer takes measurements regarding endurance, flexibility, vO2 max and other data that will help curate a workout plan catered directly to the student. From there students can begin working out with their trainer to achieve their goals.

“For students, we meet with them during a 7-week period, and they meet with the trainers twice a week, Jacobs said. “Then they get workouts outside of that for them to do on their own.”

The nutrition and training programs target all students on campus, from those with little to no experience extending to members of one of the 23 Vikings athletics teams. Heath is a swimmer, and her desire to improve her performance was one of the reasons she got a job working in nutrition.

“Knowing how to fuel my workouts so I can perform my best and achieve goals is something that is really important to me and I want to be able to help other people that want to do that,” Heath said. 

The Department of Recreation’s goal as an organization at Berry College is to provide opportunities that promote student development and foster community by facilitating recreational and leisure pursuits and providing opportunities to meet others with similar interests and promote ways to maintain or improve personal health and wellbeing. Heath, Jacobs and Buelow all cite this desire to help other people as one of the most fulfilling and satisfying parts of their jobs.

“It is really nice to help people,” Buelow said. “Helping educate them about any little thing is something that is so simple to me [yet] eye opening for other people and that’s really awesome to help educate about that, I love doing that.”

Jacobs has been a part of the fitness industry since he was 16 years old and appreciates how big of a role it has played in his life not only in staying healthy but also in keeping him active. As Fitness Director, he looks to impart this same passion and satisfaction to the students that he employs and trains.

“If you can help anyone else out there to get in here and start working out and seeing the benefits hopefully that translates into a life of fitness,” Jacobs said.

For more information about getting your own personal trainer or nutritionist, click on the Nutrition and Fitness tab on the Campus Recreation page on berry.edu. If you are interested in working for either of these programs reach out to the Assistant Dean of Student Wellness Michael McElveen at mmcelveen@berry.edu.