POWERGRAMS

100% CONNECTED AUMazing wellness center S Although there are many cardio exercise equipment, tudents at Auburn University facets to the facility, AUM is including treadmills, upright and at Montgomery (AUM) looking ahead to the future, recumbent bicycles, stair-steppers asked for it, and they got it. Veres said. The Alabama Power and elliptical machines. There is a The university recently added a Foundation grant is supporting juice bar where students can relax state-of-the-art wellness center a quasi-endowment, which will after a workout and purchase a to improve health and physical generate funding for repairs in fruit drink or healthy snack. fitness as well as increase the coming years. The fund will also The center is headquarters sense of community on campus. "The cool thing is the whole project was the result of a studentled initiative," said AUM Chancellor John Veres. "Representatives from our Student Government Association approached me in 2008 expressing a desire for a wellness center where they could work out as well as meet their friends and have fun." Students approved increasing their activity fees to help fund the New 73,000-square-foot building serves 5,000 students and community. effort. They took part in focus groups during help pay for the next phase of to the Physical Education and the planning stages of the construction, which will include Exercise Science departments. facility, giving them a voice in multiuse courts for badminton, This portion of the center houses the features included in the new tennis and other sports. two classrooms, research labs and center. "We are not only excited the intramural sports office. As part of its support of to receive this gift from the "The center provides a great education and its efforts to Alabama Power Foundation, but opportunity for our exercise promote health and wellness, we're pleased that your company science students to get hands-on the Alabama Power Foundation has endorsed our institution," experience with customers by partnered with AUM and its Veres said. "As our student leading Zumba, yoga, Pilates and students by providing a grant to population grows, we want to other fitness classes. We also get ensure the ongoing growth of make sure there's room for all our sports management students the center. AUM opened in 1969 of them to enjoy the wellness involved in the operations of the and currently has about 4,225 center. The funding we have center and its programs," Veres undergraduate and 764 graduate received from the Alabama said. students. Power Foundation will help us as "This is a win-win for us and "At its core, the foundation's we expand to meet those needs." the students," he said. "It not mission is to help make only gives them experience that Alabama a better place to live," By Carla Davis will help prepare them for their said Southern Division Vice careers, but it provides us with President Leslie Sanders, who people working at the center who presented the grant to AUM. are passionate about fitness and "I think this wellness center healthy living." will accomplish that goal. The center will not only help improve the health and well-being of students, alumni and faculty, but it will be an effective recruitment tool for the university because of its convenient location." Prominently situated at the campus entrance, the center opened its doors on Aug. 13, Swimming pool is popular feature. 2012, at the start of the fall In-depth research is being semester. conducted on topics such as With a sleek, modern design, range of motion, hydrostatic the 73,000-square-foot, weigh-ins, oxygen consumption two-story building is packed and the use of X-rays to measure with recreational and fitness body components. equipment. It features a pool, "The center offers a blend of two multipurpose basketball academic and applied learning, courts, a zip line, a weight room, as well as fun for students who a track and a rock-climbing wall, can just go in and shoot hoops with beginner, intermediate and or swim when they feel like it," advanced levels. Veres said. The center has the latest Photos by Bill Snow Sanders and Veres with Louis Thornton, right, director of AUM Wellness Center. Foundation grant boosts health, fitness of students PAGE 7

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