Hailey Wimmenauer

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Name: Hailey Wimmenauer

Hometown: Harleysville, Pa.

Year in School: Senior

Major: Exercise and Sport Science

Minor: Coaching                                 

Hailey is a coaching minor.

Hailey's Video

You can’t help but be impressed by Hailey Wimmenauer. Calling it a “big step,” Hailey moved nine hours away from home to attend Coastal Carolina University. After living in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania, she wanted to attend college in the South. More impressive than the leap of faith she took to move to South Carolina is how she has prospered in both the academic and recreational realms while a student at CCU.

Hailey sought out Coastal because of the exercise and sport science program. The passion she had for the academic discipline as a high school junior has only intensified now that she is a college senior.

“I find human anatomy very fascinating. We can do a lot of things with our body that we don’t even know we can do. I really want to help people live the healthiest lives they can,” says Hailey.

Case in point: Hailey beams about a course titled Personal Fitness Leadership. The class tasks students with training a client through a six-week program. Hailey’s client, a CCU employee, has already experienced fitness gains. Describing the feeling of helping someone else benefit from one’s own expertise as “very rewarding,” Hailey has put forth a strong effort in the class.

Not that she doesn’t always put forth a strong effort. As an Honors Research Fellow and Swain Scholar, it goes without saying that one’s absolute best is demanded at all times. Currently, Hailey is busy with the Breaking Sad Initiative, a Swain Scholar research project designed to investigate the impact of social media on mental health rates, such as suicide and depression. If all continues to go well, Hailey and her fellow Swain Scholars will present at a national conference next academic year.

So you are probably wondering, how does Hailey have time for extracurricular activities? We actually have no idea. However, she finds a way. A member of the CCU Club Quidditch team and the student manager of the women’s soccer team, Hailey loves to get outside of the classroom and compete. An aspiring coach, these experiences also allow her to observe and build for the future.

“CCU has helped me find my niche,” explains Hailey. “I am really happy here. Every semester I find out something new about myself.”

Hailey is so happy here that she wants to spend a couple more years on campus. An option she is currently entertaining is to enroll in the recreation and sport management graduate program. You won’t find a single person on campus who feels that is a bad idea.

 

  

Hailey is from Pennsylvania.

Q&A with Hailey

How did you hear about Coastal?: I spent a lot of time my junior year of high school searching for exercise science schools and I found that Coastal was home to one of the top programs!

Why did you come to Coastal?: I always knew I wanted to move south for school to get away from cold weather. As soon as I visited Coastal’s campus I knew I loved it and I could see myself going to school here

Favorite professor: I have learned a lot from all of my different EXSS professors but most of all I have been able to develop professionally with influences from Christine Rockey and Kimberly Tatro. I have valued my relationships with them and all of their help throughout the years.

Favorite class: My favorite class right now is Personal Fitness Leadership where we get to work with a client and run them through a six-week exercise program. My client is amazing! I always have a great time working with her and it is a great way for me to apply all my knowledge and share it with others.

Favorite aspect of Coastal?: My favorite thing about Coastal is the community-feel of campus. It’s a special thing to be a part of Teal Nation and I always feel right at home walking around campus.

Favorite aspect of living in the Conway/Myrtle Beach area?: My favorite thing is the weather because when it was warmer outside I feel more motivated to get work done and go to class. I could never imagine going to class in the snow.

Clubs/Intramurals/other extracurricular activities involved in?: I am co-captain of CCU’s Club Quidditch team and I have been a member of the team since the Spring semester of my freshman year. My teammates are some of my closest friends and I love all of the time I get to spend with them. We have been able to grow individually and as a whole and it is very rewarding. Not to mention the sport is just a lot of fun and the quidditch community is very welcoming. I am also a Swain Scholar. My fellow scholars and I are working on our research project to investigate the influences of screen time on mental/emotional health. Lastly, I am student manager for Coastal’s women’s soccer team.

Do you work anywhere currently (either on or off campus)?: I have been an Honors Research Fellow since I was a freshman. I work with the Honors College to organize and run freshman honors orientation and I have the opportunity to work with various professors on their research projects.

Plans after graduation?: After graduation I would love to come back to Coastal for the Recreation and Sport Management graduate program. I’m not quite ready to leave this campus yet and I am looking to branch out and learn a new aspect of the sports realm.

What are your hobbies?: I am a huge soccer fan. I played the sport my whole life so one of my biggest hobbies is watching or playing soccer. I also enjoy spending time with my family.

Hailey is a senior