UW Kinesiology and Health Students Receive National Scholar Awards

Three students from the University of Wyoming’s Division of Kinesiology and Health have received recognition as 2026 American Kinesiology Association (AKA) award recipients.

Devon King, of Casper, received the Undergraduate Scholar Award; Megan Lee, of Baton Rouge, La., was awarded the Master’s Scholar Award; and Cole Nelson, of Riverton, received the Graduate Student Writing Award.

Each student received a certificate of achievement, along with a medallion and a letter from the AKA.

Beginning in January, the AKA reaches out to kinesiology and health academic programs across the country asking for student nominations. Qin “Arthur” Zhu, director of the UW Division of Kinesiology and Health -- part of the College of Health Sciences -- contacted faculty nominators, who then recommended student entries.

For each award category, each academic institution can nominate one individual as its local award recipient, and those recipients receive certificates of recognition. All local recipients are then nominees for the national awards in each category.

National award winners and honorable mentions are selected after a thorough review by AKA Student Awards Committee members. Reviews are based on standardized rubrics for each award category, including scholarship and writing. To avoid any conflicts of interest, committee members do not review applicants from their own institutions, and the chair of the committee is not involved in the review process.

In addition to faculty members providing reasons each of the three UW students were qualified to be nominated, the students were asked to provide curriculum vitae of their academic history.

“We are immensely proud of Devon, Megan and Cole for earning recognition from the American Kinesiology Association. Their achievements exemplify the caliber of students we attract and mentor in the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming and continue our long-standing tradition of having UW students honored on the national stage by AKA,” Zhu says. “With the launch of our inaugural health sciences doctoral program, we are excited about the increased opportunities to develop and support even more outstanding students who will compete successfully for these prestigious national awards in the years to come.”

According to the AKA website, eligibility criteria for students nominated for awards this year included being a first author of a publication; leadership and service to their future professions; and being on track to graduate in 2026.

“The quality of this year’s nominees is outstanding,” says Emily Schmitt, an associate professor with the Division of Kinesiology and Health. “These students represent the very best of UW Kinesiology and Health, demonstrating excellence in the classroom, a passion for discovery and a commitment to making a meaningful impact.”

“Megan demonstrates an incredible level of engagement in research as a master’s student,” adds Angela Sinonton, an associate lecturer with the division. “She consistently gets involved in project planning, implementation and data collection. She is highly deserving of this award.”

Student winners will be featured on the AKA website and will join a lengthy list of previous award winners categorized by year.

“The AKA award is an honor, and it’s incredibly exciting to showcase the research and effort that we have put in alongside the faculty and other students here at UW,” Nelson says.

“I am honored to be selected as this year’s AKA Local Master’s Scholar. I take pride in representing physical education’s unique contributions within the broader field of kinesiology,” Lee says. “I would like to extend thanks to those who nominated me. Your support has made it possible for me to present at conferences, engage in research and continue growing as a professional. I look forward to continuing to learn, advocate and develop throughout my time in academia.”

“As the dean of the University of Wyoming’s College of Health Sciences, I am incredibly proud of Devon, Megan and Cole for earning these prestigious national awards from the American Kinesiology Association,” Patrick Hardigan says. “Their success highlights the exceptional talent and dedication of our students, as well as the outstanding mentorship provided by our faculty in the Division of Kinesiology and Health. These achievements not only reflect the high caliber of our programs but also strengthen our commitment to excellence in health sciences education and research, especially as we launch our new doctoral program. Congratulations to these outstanding scholars -- we look forward to your continued impact in the field.”