Purdue University Northwest is celebrating a 30-year commitment to fitness. Thirty years ago, Purdue Northwest’s Hammond Campus introduced a comprehensive, multi-faceted fitness center for students, faculty, staff, university sports teams and community members.
Exercise facility & academic lab During the past three decades, that fitness center has provided state-of-the-art exercise equipment and knowledgeable, professional supervision to thousands of individuals young and old who seek to improve their fitness. PNW Hammond Fitness Center staff members also have directed fitness and wellness activities for the campus and nearby communities including twice annual road races, exercise classes and as a designated SilverSneakers exercise site.
Additionally, both PNW Fitness Centers serve as academic laboratories for some 50 PNW fitness management students. These students prepare for management jobs and careers in the fitness and health care industry by studying exercise science and business while gaining hands-on experience in the Fitness Centers as they learn from seasoned fitness professionals.
All levels of fitness “From Day One, the staff of our Fitness Centers has worked at providing a non-intimidating and judgment-free facility where members, regardless of their level of fitness, can feel comfortable exercising,” PNW Director of Fitness and Wellness John Bobalik, an original Fitness Center staff member, said.
“Developing individual fitness activities based on a person’s medical background, current level of physical fitness and exercise goals, while also continuing to work with members and help them make progress, is what sets our staff apart and makes our fitness centers special.”
PNW Hammond Fitness Center Manager Tabitha Stills added, “As a fitness management graduate of Purdue Calumet in the early 1990s, and now as an employee, I have been able to see the growth and evolution of fitness programs and activities over the years, as well as the university’s commitment to providing the best health and fitness programs and services to its members.”
New Westville Center A new Fitness Center opened in August with the dedication of the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the PNW Westville Campus.
“Our new facility features cutting-edge equipment and group exercise classes,” center supervisor and alumnus James Shmagranoff said. “I look forward to assisting with the growth and development of quality programs and activities at our Westville facility.”
Tour and membership information about PNW’s Fitness Centers can be obtained by visiting http://www.pnw.edu/fitness-recreational-sports/ or phoning 219-989-2175 (Hammond Center) or 219-785-5285 (Westville Center).
Purdue University Northwest Purdue University Northwest (PNW), a comprehensive regional university within the Purdue University system, has two Northwest Indiana campuses in Hammond and Westville. The university was established by the unification in early 2016 of the former Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central. With more than 15,000 students and nearly 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Purdue Northwest is Indiana’s fifth largest public university. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.
