Distinguished Service Award

Dallas Branch received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2020 in recognition of his contributions to sport management education and the sport marketing profession.

Branch served as an associate professor in CPASS for 29 years, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in sport marketing, sport management, sport promotion, and sponsorship. For 15 years, he taught an innovative ESPN Sports Poll graduate class, the first of its kind in the nation. He also coordinated the sport management program for 12 years and directed graduate student internship placements in the Master of Science program, helping the program achieve a national ranking of third and an international ranking of 11th by Eduniversal.

Sharon Sisler received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2019 in recognition of her long-standing service to West Virginia University.

Sisler earned a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science in community health education from WVU, graduating magna cum laude. She began her WVU career in 1970 in the Office of Human Resources as a recruiter representative. In 1982, she joined the School of Physical Education, later CPASS, where she spent the next 36 years serving in the Dean’s Office in multiple administrative roles.

Andrew Hawkins received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2018 in recognition of his contributions to teaching, leadership, and service at West Virginia University.

Hawkins earned his undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University and master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University, where he studied special physical education, behavior analysis, and developmental psychology. He joined WVU in 1980 and served on the faculty until his retirement in 2012.

Bob Wiegand received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2016 in recognition of more than four decades of teaching, leadership, and scholarship at West Virginia University.

Wiegand earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Georgia in 1974 and joined the faculty of the School of Physical Education that same year. Over a 41-year career at WVU, he taught primarily in the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program, where he was dedicated to the instructional preparation of future physical educators.

Lynn Housner received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2015 in recognition of his leadership and contributions to physical education teacher education.

Housner earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. While in graduate school, he taught physical education for preschool through eighth grade at Falk Laboratory School.

Andrew Ostrow received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2014 in recognition of his teaching, scholarship, and leadership in sport and exercise psychology.

Ostrow earned his bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College, his master’s degree from the University of Maryland, and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the West Virginia University faculty in 1973 and served for 35 years before retiring in 2008.

Bruce Wilmoth received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2013 in recognition of his career as a teacher, advisor, and program leader at West Virginia University.

A native of Virginia, Wilmoth earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brigham Young University and joined the WVU faculty in 1967. He served in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences for over four decades, retiring as an associate professor and later being named professor emeritus.

Ferris Antoon received the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 2012 in recognition of his contributions to physical education and youth athletics.

A native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Antoon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from West Virginia University and a Master of Science degree from Monmouth University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict before beginning his teaching career.