Center of Achievement, CSUN

Center of Achievement, CSUN The Center of Achievement offers both aquatic and land-based therapeutic exercise programs for indiv

I’m loving memory of Becky O’Brien 💜
08/11/2022

I’m loving memory of Becky O’Brien 💜

Where are They Now Wednesday's!This month we are featuring.... Daniel Peter Parsons!Daniel Parsons I applied to the APA ...
10/06/2021

Where are They Now Wednesday's!

This month we are featuring.... Daniel Peter Parsons!

Daniel Parsons

I applied to the APA program because I knew I wanted to make a career in using physical activity to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. I also knew that the APA graduate program at CSUN was and is the best place to be trained and prepared to flourish in the field.

Graduated in spring, 2018



Following graduation:

Adapted Sport and Recreation Director for youth with developmental disabilities.
Part-time lecturer at the center, teaching 311, 313.
Certifications


Currently:

Founded in 2018, and “all in!!”, on Surf the Spectrum, check out our Instagram and website! Rapidly growing, 4 programs (Gross Motor Fitness, Cardio Counts, Surf & Sea, Skater Dude) 1 vision: to impact the lives of youth and adults on the Autism Spectrum. Located in Santa Monica, Malibu, and Ventura (we also provide internship & employment opportunities). Licensed vendor and partner with city of Santa Monica, providing funded services.

Faculty at Los Angeles Valley College teaching courses in Adapted Physical Activity and Athletics

Favorite Memory:

That’s a tough one, but I’ll say that any of the “first day of client’s”. The looks on the client’s faces on that day, eager to work out, ready to be back at the center and meet a new face. They all had a certain energy to them, it was contagious and it always set the tone for the semester, from students to staff/intern to supervisors.

Advice:

You get back what you give. Pour yourself out and find your passion within APA. The program is an incredible platform with countless opportunities to further your professional, personal, and scholastic development. Don’t have any distractions just give yourself to the process for a couple years and DO EVERYTHING (clinical supervisor, conduct research, help with research projects, children’s program, IFIT, conferences, campus events, public speaking opportunities the list goes on). There are so many amazing opportunities that are just there for you, in your lap!

Where are They Now Wednesday's!This month we are featuring Justin Shamunee!My name is Justin Shamunee. I received my Bac...
09/01/2021

Where are They Now Wednesday's!

This month we are featuring Justin Shamunee!

My name is Justin Shamunee. I received my Bachelor’s in Kinesiology: Exercise Science, in Spring 2016, and Master’s in Kinesiology: Adapted Physical Activity (APA), in Fall 2018, at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). I was part of the CSUN Men’s Rugby team while I was an undergraduate and graduate student, and I also competed in the CSUN Men’s Wrestling team during my last year and a half as a graduate student. Initially, I was undecided for my first two years at CSUN and ultimately chose the Exercise Science major because I was passionate about participating in competitive sports. Through my involvement in volunteering to provide free exercise to older adults in underserved communities at the time, I related to the drive and commitment of the community members who came to exercise and personally came to a realization that there was a significant need to help older adults with disabilities safely participate in exercise. I naturally gravitated to the APA program at CSUN to inquire more about appropriate ways to approach barriers to exercise – with high hopes of solving this problem.

Going through the APA program provided me with invaluable experience, and most importantly, it fostered the growth of my career path. I remember the fervent drive and commitment demonstrated from the clients within the APA program’s exercise center. However, unlike myself and the older adults from the underserved communities I aided previously, the clients had severe physical limitations which shackled and suppressed their passion to exercise immensely. From that day on, I have always pursued to find innovative ways for people with chronic medical conditions to adequately engage in therapeutic exercise and have learned that these “innovative ways” must be properly pioneered and supported through research.

I currently work as a clinical research assistant (full-time) at a medical research center – at the moment, my principal investigator and I are working on studies that explore the effects of telehealth exercise in patients with hematological malignancies who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation. In addition, I work as a research associate (part-time) for a global biopharmaceutical research organization, and I assist their efforts in testing the safety and tolerability of new drugs in phase I clinical trials through the laboratory setting. Subsequently, my dream was once self-centered around my own personal interests, but now, they have developed into something altruistically remarkable! I now specifically pursue helping research studies explore novel methodologies in the field of exercise to ensure that I achieve my dream of leaving behind a legacy within the research field that will help future generations progress forward and utilize exercise as a safe means of treatment for life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer.

If I were to give words of advice to the students at the CSUN APA exercise center, it would be this: “find your passion, and find how you can use it to help others because that will help you find your way and adapt to any circumstance”.

Where are they now Wednesday's!This month we are featuring....Dr. Mai Narasaki Jarai Jara!Bio and how you came to CSUN f...
08/11/2021

Where are they now Wednesday's!

This month we are featuring....Dr. Mai Narasaki Jarai Jara!

Bio and how you came to CSUN for the APA program?
Mai Narasaki-Jara, MS, EdD

I am a proud CSUN APA 2006 graduate! I was teaching at the Center for 15 years before I was hired at Cal Poly Pomona in the middle of pandemic. I feel blessed every day that I get to share my knowledge with my students. I truly enjoy this career because of the experience of witnessing students’ “ah-ha” moments, laughter, and unexpected moments. I get to watch my students grow as a person and a professional every day. There is nothing more rewarding than this experience. I am mom of 3 wild beautiful kids (Miller, 7; Micah, 6; Maleah, 1.5).
I took KIN311 in 2003 and walked into the Center for the first time. It was a life changing moment and fell in love with clients, COA staff, and the field of APA. My mentor, Dr. Jung gave me the opportunity to pursue graduate program in APA, and gained clinical, professional, and academic training and became an Aquatic Director of the Center after earning MS degree in APA. I was working at the Center from 2005 -2007 as an intern, student staff, receptionist, lifeguard, group instructor, clinical supervisor, and finally as a director 2007-2020. Fall 2020, I accepted the position as Assistant Professor for the Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion at Cal Poly Pomona. The Center is my home, my foundation, and a place who helped me to become the professional that I am today.

When did you graduate?
CSUN BS Kinesiology Athletic Training: Dec 2003
CSUN MS Kinesiology APA: Dec 2006
CSUN EdD Educational Leadership: Aug 2018

What you are doing now?
Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona &
Director of Motor Development Clinic (Movement program for children with disabilities who are experiencing a delay in motor skills)

What is on your bucket list?
Backpack traveling in South East Asia
Learn Spanish and Sign language

Name a favorite thing?
To enjoy different food with my friends and family.

Most memorable moment at the center?
Witnessing my client taking her first step for the first time in 8 years since her diagnosis of ischemic stroke and sharing the moment with her husband overjoyed with tears.
Comraderies with COA students and clients…

Words of advice to students or clients?
Students, there is always a way if you look for it so explore and see what you can do…That’s what I did…
Not an advice but…all COA clients, you are my inspiration, my goal, and my motivation…

Future goals, adventures, travels, or anything else you would like to share with everyone.
I miss COA, clients, staff, and COA students and looking forward to the day I can visit the Center and see all of your faces❤

Mai Narasaki Jara

The Center of Achievement is excited to share a new segment, ✨Where are they now Wednesday’s?✨We will be showcasing past...
07/28/2021

The Center of Achievement is excited to share a new segment, ✨Where are they now Wednesday’s?✨

We will be showcasing past graduates, and where their journey in the APA program has taken them. This month we have: Stephan Acuña!

My name is Stephan Acuña, and I recently graduated as an APA master's student in December 2020. I found out about the center in my undergraduate courses as an elective taking KIN 313 Adapted Aquatic Exercise. My teacher Dr. Mai showed my classmates and me the therapeutic techniques and that people with physical limitations are no different from anyone else. I came to care about my client and future clients and wanted to be a part of everything the Center of Achievement had to offer. My favorite part about the center and what I will miss are the friendly faces and the warm hellos from clients and staff. I will be starting a dual Ph.D. program at the University of Oklahoma and Université Clermont Auvergne in France, studying exercise physiology. One of the main reasons I was selected to be a part of this program was my research and experience at the center. My favorite thing is food, and there's nothing better after a long day than spending time eating with friends. My advice for students and clients is to take life slowly, aim for your goals but don't forget to be present in friendships and, most importantly, with family. Also, never give up trying to improve yourself; push yourself but remember to take breaks. After finishing my Ph.D. I hope to become a teacher and help students learn, and make the future a better place.

More information regarding the Children’s Virtual Motor Program now offered at the Center of Achievement!⭐️ Physical act...
08/24/2020

More information regarding the Children’s Virtual Motor Program now offered at the Center of Achievement!
⭐️ Physical activity for ALL abilities ⭐️

08/24/2020

Check out this video of the Children’s Motor and Sports Skills Program now offered by the center!
💻👧🏻👦🏽🧒🏼⛹🏻‍♀️🤾🏽‍♂️⚽️
Staying at home doesn’t have to interrupt fun and learning!
This program offers one-on-one live training for your child from the
convenience of your own home. For more information, you can also check out the program flyer from our separate post!

08/17/2020

COA has gone virtual for the Fall 2020 semester. Check out this short video!! We’re excited to see you back starting September 14th!

PLEASE check the link on Bio to access to YouTube: https://youtu.be/KVvaK67Y8x4

Hi everyone! The Center of Achievement has gone virtual for the Fall 2020 semester. Check out this short video to see ho...
08/17/2020

Hi everyone! The Center of Achievement has gone virtual for the Fall 2020 semester. Check out this short video to see how group exercises classes will be conducted this semester through Zoom! We’re excited to see you back starting September 14th!

Here is the link to access to YouTube: https://youtu.be/KVvaK67Y8x4

@ CSUN-Brown Center

Our first COA News Brief Vol.1 5.15.2020We are working together to provide quality of exercise program and planning a co...
05/16/2020

Our first COA News Brief Vol.1
5.15.2020

We are working together to provide quality of exercise program and planning a coffee hour to stay connected with each other.

Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, please stay safe and well! @ CSUN-Brown Center

Summer class at CSUN!!We are offering KIN311 this summer!KIN311/L Adapted Therapeutic Exercise🔴Mon through Thu⚫️9-10am🔴6...
05/02/2020

Summer class at CSUN!!
We are offering KIN311 this summer!

KIN311/L
Adapted Therapeutic Exercise

🔴Mon through Thu
⚫️9-10am
🔴6weeks
⚫️5/26-7/7/20

Online class designed to learn principles and applications of therapeutic exercise for people with disabilities.

Clinical skills and manual exercise techniques are covered in the lab.

Ever growing COA family had an another great trip to mammoth mountain to spend time together.
02/25/2020

Ever growing COA family had an another great trip to mammoth mountain to spend time together.

Address

Northridge, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm

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