Academy allows PT students to serve

Students, faculty and staff of the University of North Georgia (UNG) are offering a free program this summer that offers structured training for 95 youth athletes ranging in age from 7 to 12.

Doctoral physical therapy students created workouts for the Balance Agility Quickness (BAQ) Academy, and three of them are working alongside UNG employees and former student-athletes to coach the students on Wednesdays and Sundays at Nighthawk Ridge.

Maj. Brett Roach, associate director of emergency preparedness with UNG Public Safety, was inspired to create the academy due to some challenges he saw for young athletes while coaching his daughter. The Institute for Peak Performance (IPP), led by Executive Director and retired Col. Bryan Kirk, sponsors the academy so that it can be free for community members.

"The program is built around science-based, age-appropriate exercises that focus on balance, agility, quickness, movement quality, confidence, and long-term athletic development," said Roach, who serves as BAQ Academy program director. "Everyone involved is donating their time to create a positive, structured and high-quality experience for the kids."

Danielle Bull, a second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student from Gainesville, Georgia, earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from UNG in May 2025. She was grateful to be able to dive into the existing literature on exercise research as part of a team of nine DPT students to craft workouts for the kids.

"We want to reinforce healthy body movements so they can get stronger and prevent injuries in the future," Bull said. "We will have them slow down and emphasize the importance of developing fundamental movement patterns. There's a lot of science to it. Our goal when building the workouts is to target certain muscle groups while making it fun for the kids."

Bull plans to be a pediatric physical therapist once she finishes her DPT.

"It's great for me because it's what I want to do for a living," Bull said. "We're working with young athletes, and it challenges me to be creative."

Colleen Thorson, a second-year DPT student from Suwanee, Georgia, was a softball player for Agnes Scott College during her undergraduate days. She plans to work as a sports physical therapist.

"This opportunity is confirming that for me," Thorson said. "I enjoy meeting the athletes where they are developmentally."

Jordan Pope, a second-year DPT student from Bremen, Georgia, earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a concentration in health and fitness from UNG in 2025. She appreciates the hands-on nature of BAQ Academy.

"It's given me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and gain experience in coaching and teaching kids for the first time," Pope said. "It's also been a great experience getting to apply our education and see it make a difference."

Dr. Jennifer Wiley, associate professor of physical therapy, said her team of students was impressive in crafting the workouts before Bull, Pope and Thorson also helped implement them.

"Dr. Camilla Christopher and I were excited when Brett asked us to take part in developing the program," Wiley said. "This has provided a unique experience for our students to apply what they are learning and make an impact on the community, specifically these young athletes."

Dr. Ryan Davis, an assistant professor of kinesiology, helps oversee the workouts. He heard about BAQ Academy during a faculty meeting and was interested right away.

"I wanted to help however I could," Davis said. "I enjoy seeing the involvement from the community and the kids."

Kirk is grateful for IPP to have the chance to facilitate BAQ Academy.

"This is a model of where IPP can connect with our communities at a different level," Kirk said. "This is reinforcing and strengthening our mission."