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Sideline Series at Penn State Mont Alto- Kelly Sprinkle

Sideline Series at Penn State Mont Alto- Kelly Sprinkle
March 10, 2021

By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

MONT ALTO, Pa. – Penn State Mont Alto fans and supporters are accustomed to hearing the stories of our incredible student-athletes, coaches and alumni, but for the first-time ever the department of athletics is highlighting faculty and staff members on campus who work behind the scenes to provide a top-notch student-athlete experience. This week we shine a spotlight on Kelly Sprinkle who serves as a lecturer within the kinesiology department on campus. For those that don't know, kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of body movements. So she has a strong presence within the Multipurpose Activities Center (MAC) teaching several physical education type classes each semester. 

Name: Kelly Sprinkle

Job Title: Lecturer in Kinesiology

Years at Penn State Mont Alto: Came to Penn State Mont Alto in the Fall of 2004. So, the better part of 16 years.

  1. What is your favorite part about working here at Penn State Mont Alto?

  • First and foremost, I love to teach about my passion (health & wellness), and Mont Alto has given me the opportunity to do just that. I also love the smaller campus community, because it provides a more family-like atmosphere which encourages students to get involved and connect with each other outside of the classroom.

  1. What is the best advice you received either professionally or academically?

  • During my time as a high school and collegiate athlete, I would come across various words of encouragement that inspired moments. But one phrase that my mother used to say to me and has stayed with me throughout my entire career. Her words were (and still are) "Reach for the Best That is Within You!" I keep these words close by as a reminder that we can always achieve greater things if we just keep reaching.

  1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed your job?

  • This pandemic has brought out my creativity. In addition to lectures, my course load includes activity courses that require partners, equipment, and a space to gather. Because of the new restrictions, it became increasingly difficult to deliver these courses with the same energy and flow. So with the collaborative effort of Kinesiology faculty throughout the Penn State Commonwealth, we began to share videos, resources, and do-it-yourself home exercise ideas. I adapted my courses to work in various environments with the intention of encouraging movement under any circumstance. I changed my focus from performance to overall wellness. I began to include more stress management activities and extended the classroom discussion in order to create a more positive & encouraging atmosphere for students.

  1. What is your favorite Mont Alto athletics memory or student-athlete achievement?

  • I'm a fan of all of student-athletes and athletic teams. But if I have to choose, Mont Alto athletics has given me two distinctly different but impactful memories. The first is family night. Since they were little (over 10 years now), I've been taking my kids to home basketball games. We love to feel the energy in the atmosphere as we watch the players show off their skills and maybe even slam a few dunks! It's a great feeling to be a part of that excitement.

    The second would be watching student-athletes grow and mature during their time here. I remember teaching a basketball course one semester and having a few of our team's players enrolled in the course. At that time, our team was in the running to claim the national title. Because they were obviously already very knowledgeable and skilled in these areas, I was concerned about how they would respond to my lessons on dribbling, shooting, and the rules of the sport. But instead of showing off or losing their patience, I saw these students mature and become leaders in the "classroom".  They began to support and encourage other students who were learning the game for the first time.  This impressed me as a teacher, as a coach, and as a parent. 

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