KENNESAW, Ga. |
Might 8, 2025
Kennesaw State College senior Kaden Buford likes being hands-on with train science, immersing in a medical setting and serving to individuals heal from accidents. Her classmate Kayla Anderson, alternatively, prefers analysis, delving into the scientific “why” utilizing information, experiments, and commentary.
Collectively, they kind a formidable staff of exercise science majors learning efficient measures of muscle operate and supporting one another each in
and out of the lab. Not too long ago, they labored collectively on three analysis tasks, and
Anderson introduced her findings on the spring Symposium of Student Scholars.
“Kaden and Kayla are a dynamic duo,” mentioned Garrett Hester, affiliate professor of train science and mentor to each Anderson and Buford. “They’ve had such a full expertise at KSU, each with analysis and the train science majors membership, their Honors capstones, they usually really assist one another. It’s been nice to see.”
The duo have taken totally different paths to Graduation earlier than touchdown in Hester’s lab. Buford initially wished to check nursing however shifted gears to assist individuals in a healthcare setting differently.
“Very similar to nursing, train science is person-based and means that you can make an impression on so many lives,” she mentioned. “Via train science I additionally received into analysis, which has been an amazing expertise for me.”
Equally, Anderson arrived at KSU with a biochemistry curiosity however quickly had a change of coronary heart.
“Individuals say to check one thing that you just’re captivated with, and sure, I am captivated with science and math, however I am additionally captivated with well being and wellness,” she mentioned. “After I was analysis areas and profession paths, train science was extra catered to what I love to do. There’s nonetheless that physiology aspect of it that I excel in, but it surely’s additionally sensible, it’s associated to well being and wellness, and I get to work with individuals.”
They labored collectively in Hester’s lab with 2024 grasp’s graduate Lacey Harper on her examine of the efficacy of power coaching amongst older ladies. Later, they
took on their very own tasks. For his or her capstone tasks within the KSU Journey Honors College, the duo investigated muscle operate from totally different vantage factors. Buford research non-local muscle fatigue involving hand-grip power after a brisk strolling activity, and Anderson’s undertaking is on the consequences of psychological imagery at totally different muscle contraction speeds on mind excitability and muscle operate. Hester mentioned Anderson is main the biggest undergraduate student-led examine so far below his mentorship so far; a four-visit randomized management trial together with twenty members.
Away from the lab, the 2 head up KSU’s Train Science Majors Membership – Buford as president, Anderson as vice-president. On the current Wellstar Research Engagement and Discovery symposium, they introduced their analysis, with Buford successful first place and Anderson ending
second.
“We’ve simply form of been the ability duo all 12 months,” Anderson mentioned. “Kaden has been my predominant supporter for my undertaking. She helped me so much with pilot testing in addition to information assortment. She’s been serving to with recruitment, so we’ve teamed up between analysis and the majors membership. We work collectively on a regular basis.”
Buford mentioned the 2 deliver various things to the lab that complement one another and
have helped them obtain nice heights as college students and researchers.
“Despite the fact that we’re concerned in numerous the identical stuff, we predict very in a different way as a result of Kayla’s very analytical, and he or she notices particulars that I do not,” Buford mentioned. “I am a really artistic particular person outdoors of the sciences. Now we have totally different traits that come collectively, and it helps us create good concepts.”
After graduating, Anderson will keep at KSU to pursue her Master of Science in Exercise Science, whereas Buford will pursue a Physician of Bodily Remedy at Georgia Southern College, which she’ll start subsequent week.
“Their dedication, their arduous work, and their assist for one another made a giant distinction for them at KSU, and people issues will serve them effectively sooner or later,” Hester mentioned.
— By Dave Shelles
Photographs by Matt Yung
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A pacesetter in revolutionary educating and studying, Kennesaw State College provides undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to its greater than 47,000 college students. Kennesaw State is a member of the College System of Georgia with 11 educational schools. The college’s vibrant campus tradition, various inhabitants, sturdy international ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw college students from all through the nation and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral analysis establishment (R2), inserting it amongst an elite group of solely 8 % of U.S. schools and universities with an R1 or R2 standing. For extra info, go to kennesaw.edu.
