Selection Criteria:

1. Recipients shall be admitted students in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Education at either the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate (fifth year), or graduate level, and shall be selected on the basis of their interest in teaching physical education to children with disabilities and their intent to teach in K-12 physical education instructional programs or in school and community sport and skill programs.
2. The endowment shall have flexibility to support both tuition scholarships and student assistantships within the Department of Kinesiology.
3. Of the distributable income available, a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of the income shall be used for funding tuition scholarships.  The remaining funds shall be used for funding student assistantships.
4. Tuition scholarship awards shall be made at a minimum level of $1,000 per award, depending on the amount of distributable income available.  The amount of student assistantship awards shall be determined by the Department of Kinesiology, depending on the amount of work time required of students and the amount of distributable income available.  Recipients of student assistantship awards are expected to work in practicum settings with persons who have disabilities under faculty supervision.

Biographical Information:

This scholarship honors Janet Wessel, a pioneer in the field of adaptive physical education and nationally known for her development of the “I CAN Achievement Based Physical Education Curriculum”.  Janet shares her perspective on this program with the following:

“The basic philosophy underlying the I CAN Achievement Based Physical Education Curriculum is the belief that every student can learn, and each student brings his or her best to the lesson and is able to participate in the achievement cycle.  There is room for every student to enter, progress, and achieve.  High expectations are held for all students.  All students have strengths.  The strength-competencey-based achievement cycle, not deficit, directs teachers to build on the existing strengths and skills that each student presents.  No student is left behind”.

Janet has three reasons for establishing this scholarship:  it is a call to give back, as a strategy for happiness, and to honor her friend and colleague, Elizabeth Flinchbaugh.  Many teachers and friends helped Janet along the way in furthering her studies, and she wants to provide that same support to future students to encourage them to pursue their dreams.  Janet also believes that true happiness comes from the chance to do something for someone else.  And finally, Janet wishes to honor Elizabeth Flinchbaugh, a physical education teacher in East Lansing, Michigan, of state and national reputation.  Janet and Elizabeth had discussed many times how they might further serve the field of physical education, their students, and endorse the importance of being active throughout the years.  Elizabeth’s way was to help each and every student and colleague.

Give Now to Janet E. Wessel Endowment Fund in Support of Teaching Physical Education