Anna Ondieki

The 2025 Family of the Year enjoys life on campus

Katarina Benson — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:38:59 +0000

The 2025 Family of the Year enjoys life on campus Katarina Benson Tue, 11/25/2025 - 11:38

The Dr. Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award honors the essential role families play in supporting their students at �鶹��Ƶ. Students nominate their families, and the Family of the Year Award is announced at Family Weekend in the fall. The Choi family is the 14th Family of the Year recipient.

Eun Kyung (EK) Choi is a full-time graduate student in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program in the College of Education and Human Development—and a dedicated student parent.

The Choi family is the 2025 Family of the Year. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Her journey to George �鶹��Ƶ began when she and her husband moved to the United States after he was posted to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C., by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With this major transition came an opportunity: Choi chose to pursue a teaching license, hoping to one day work in international schools around the world.

But after welcoming their baby, Choi found herself unsure how she could continue her master’s program. “I wasn’t sure how I could finish my master’s degree,” she recalled.

That’s when her husband made a pivotal decision: He took a year of parental leave to care for their baby, ensuring Choi could fully focus on her studies. His support made all the difference. Choi successfully completed the teacher certification exams required for her internships and continues to excel in her program.

“Without his support, it would not have been easy to take my current classes or prepare for my internship next semester,” she said.

The Choi family lives in �鶹��Ƶvale on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus, where they embrace the vibrant local community. They enjoy long walks to Old Town Fairfax—often stopping by the Fairfax Regional Library or treating themselves at De Clieu Coffee & Sandwiches when they don’t feel like cooking. On campus, they frequent Southside and Ike’s, and Choi keeps an eye on �鶹��Ƶ360 for fun family-friendly events.

“Being part of the George �鶹��Ƶ community as both a student and a mom has been a meaningful journey,” Choi shared. “I hope my story encourages other students who are also balancing school and family life.”

Her advice for fellow students balancing family and school is:

Take Care of Your Health: “Parenting is a whole new world. No matter how much support you have, it takes energy. I used to stay up finishing work all night and start work early in the morning, and that was my joy. But I can’t do that anymore I’ve learned to take care of my body and rest when I can. This season of life is different, but it’s precious and full of gratitude.”

Share the Responsibilities: “Parenting is not a solo journey. My husband’s and family’s support has made it possible for me to continue my studies. I also try to respect my husband’s personal time, like going to the gym or seeing friends. It helps us both.”

Use the System: “In my case, my husband was able to take one year of paid parental leave, which made this balance possible. In Korea, parents can usually take one year of paid leave plus up to two additional years of unpaid leave. Because this system was so familiar to me, I didn’t fully realize how meaningful it was. However, after talking with Colleen Vesely, my Engaging Families of Diverse Learners professor, I truly came to appreciate not only the existence of this system but also the supportive environment that allows us to use it.”

Find a Supportive Community: “I truly appreciate the welcoming community at George �鶹��Ƶ. My professors and classmates have supported me during pregnancy, childbirth, and this parenting season. Special thanks to Professor Bweikia Steen for creating a warm and inclusive class, to Professor Carly Fisher-Maltese for her kindness during my delivery time, and to my friend Jialin for her care before and after birth. Last but not least, thank you to my academic advisor, Kayla Turner, and internship coordinator, Amanda Davis, for constantly checking on me and handling my situations. Families of the Korean Embassy and friends from the diplomatic community have also been so kind. They brought food, took me on little trips to Baltimore, and even bought my favorite bingsoo from Soricha Tea and Theater. I’ve truly felt cared for.”

Topics

Family of the Year

College of Education and Human Development

University Life

Students

Empowering wellness: Graduate student brings health education to Zimbabwe community

Katarina Benson — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:45:40 +0000

Empowering wellness: Graduate student brings health education to Zimbabwe community Katarina Benson Mon, 04/07/2025 - 13:45

Shannon Smith, a graduate student in �鶹��Ƶ’s Kinesiology Program, is pioneering a transformative health and wellness education initiative in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Smith’s six-month community wellness program consists of health and wellness education for a cohort of 20 women. Participants receive education on diet, exercise, and mental health to ultimately become “wellness ambassadors” for their sub-communities.

Shannon Smith. Photo provided

The idea for this program came after Smith visited friends in Victoria Falls, where she saw a banner for Pathways–Africa, a nonprofit organization with a mission “to empower and assist the people of Africa through the mutual development of sustainable resources for community planning, education and health services.” Smith connected with the organization director via email, and together they identified the community’s health education gap. “I offered to [host] a couple of workshops, and it turned into this pilot program we’re trying to build,” Smith said.

The pilot program began earlier this year, when Smith facilitated an in-person workshop as the foundation for the content in the program. The cohort meets once a month for five months to discuss how they’re using the information, making changes, and sharing what they’ve learned. “At the end of the program, they’ll be more informed, have healthier lives, and be seen as leaders in their communities when it comes to wellness.”

Smith’s experience in Victoria Falls has strong connections to her current studies in the Kinesiology Program in the College of Education and Human Development. Her programming directly ties to health promotion, the concept of exercise as medicine, and to previous collaborations with George �鶹��Ƶ kinesiology professor Debra Stroiney.

Smith and members of the program. Photo provided

“I helped Dr. Stroiney with some ‘Exercise Is Medicine' activities last semester and am really looking forward to continuing to work in this space of exercise and food as medicine, whether it’s for an athletic or general population.”

Smith has advice for anyone who wants to serve in their community. “Do it! Locally, it may be easier to find an organization or resources to start a small project. You’ll be able to see a direct impact close to home, which is always nice.”

For those who are interested in serving abroad, she advised, “globally, there are more factors at play, but the reward can be much bigger if the country doesn’t have the same resources.” She said that flexibility is the key to overcoming cultural, language or resource barriers.

Overall, Smith encourages anyone interested in service to get involved: “There’s always something to learn, you’ll make good connections, impact lives, and you’ll have fun, too.”

Learn more about George �鶹��Ƶ's Kinesiology Program

Topics

College of Education and Human Development

health-based outreach

wellness

Students

Grad student gets his kicks with the Rockettes in NYC practicum

Colleen Rich — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 20:09:29 +0000

Grad student gets his kicks with the Rockettes in NYC practicum Colleen Rich Wed, 11/29/2023 - 15:09

This holiday season, �鶹��Ƶ graduate student Kyle Delin is working at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. A student in the MS in Athletic Training Program in �鶹��Ƶ's School of Kinesiology, Delin is doing his practicum as an athletic training student associate with Radio City Rockettes’ Athletic Training department under Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment and is helping with the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular show.

�鶹��Ƶ graduate student Kyle Delin on stage at Radio City Music Hall. Photo provided

Tell us a little about your practicum experience.

Since I’ve been here, I have been working with other athletic trainers, physical therapists, and doctors and have learned a lot from each of them. I’ve also been able to provide evaluation and treatments and prevention techniques for injuries to the performers that they may have sustained during rehearsals. While the show stars the Rockettes, they are not the only performers that I have been able to work with. There are more than 100 cast members between the Rockettes, ensemble, singers, etc. involved in the show, which has been open opened to the public since Nov. 17. From this point on, I will be working with the other athletic trainers to cover the shows until close of show in January.

What does a typical day look like in your practicum experience?

My typical day consists of reporting to Radio City Music Hall to complete pre-rehearsal/show treatments, covering run-throughs of the show/performances, complete post-rehearsal/show treatments. However, these next few weeks will be a bit different because of a handful of appearances that the Rockettes will be having, from the Today Show to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to either attend the appearance or attend the rehearsal preparations for the appearance on site.

How did you find out about this opportunity?

I learned about this opportunity through one of my professors, Jatin Ambegaonkar. He had received an email from an MSG employee regarding the position and had our program director share it with everyone in the program. I originally did not believe I would get the position when I had applied, but decided to take the chance. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview for the position with the creator of the department and my current mentors/preceptors. The whole process for getting the position, from application to interviews to receiving my offer, took about four months, and I couldn’t feel any luckier.”

How has this experience shaped your interests/career plans?

This experience has opened my eyes to the numerous possibilities for my career. I’ve enjoyed working with everyone and could see myself working in this type of setting. However, I also can see myself working in other settings as well, based on my experiences at my other practicum sites. At this point, it’s difficult to say where I would like my career to take me, but either way I know that I will be happy.

What has been your favorite memory of the practicum so far?

So far, my favorite memory is seeing each of the parts of the show come together. I’ve been able to watch each of the numbers from initial rehearsal to final product come together with choreography, props, stage elements, costumes, etc. and it’s been amazing to see.

What advice can you share to students going into a new practicum experience?

For all students going into a new practicum experience, take the opportunity to learn as much as you can. New techniques, new methods, everything and anything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone does and it will be all right. Make sure to talk with your mentor/preceptor, and listen to their feedback. No one is ever perfect, especially not during practicum experiences. This is the time to make mistakes and to learn. It can be nerve-racking and there will be times that you will be completely lost, but it will be okay. And you will get through it. Believe in yourself, rely on what you’ve learned from your professors, but also be open to criticism and open to learning other methods/techniques that your mentors/preceptors may have to offer. Doing this will only make you a better professional.

Start your own journey at �鶹��Ƶ

Learn more about Kinesiology at �鶹��Ƶ

Topics

Students

College of Education and Human Development

Athletic Training

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The 2025 Family of the Year enjoys life on campus

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