University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Ben Olson was recently honored with the 2024 Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Major of the Year Award. The national award celebrates undergraduate students in the fields of health, physical education, recreation and dance who exhibit excellence in and out of the classroom as teacher candidates.
Olson, a health and human performance - physical education major from Holmen, Wisconsin, is currently student teaching at Mineral Point Elementary School.
"Ben has continually demonstrated highly effective teaching practices in our courses,” said Tim Swenson, assistant professor of Health and Human Performance at UW-Platteville, who nominated Olson. “He has the natural ability to connect with all students as well as make physical education meaningful to all his students. I'm very proud of him, and this award is just the beginning to a wonderful career in teaching."
Olson said building those relationship with students is something he enjoys most about the field.
“I am very interested in any way that I can have a positive influence on any student’s life,” he said. “I had a lot of teachers who meant a lot to me, so that is what pushed me into this major.”
Among those who have made a difference in his education, Olson says, are Tim Swenson and Susanna Swenson, senior lecturer of health and human performance.
“All of the HHP professors at UW-Platteville are phenomenal,” said Olson. “Tim and Susanna Swenson are a couple of the most influential people in my life. This is the first academic award I have received at UW-Platteville, and I just got my first ever 4.0 GPA my senior year, thanks to Tim and Susanna. I am very grateful.”
SHAPE America serves as the voice for 200,000-plus health and physical education professionals across the United States. The organization provides programs, resources and advocacy that support an inclusive, active and healthier school culture. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport.