Murray State University's Health and Physical Education program celebrates newly renovated classroom and hands-on learning space

By Jillian Smith | Oct 2, 2026

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University’s Health and Physical Education (HPE) program is giving students new opportunities to turn classroom concepts into hands-on experience with a newly renovated classroom and learning space in Carr Hall.

Designed specifically with HPE students and faculty in mind, the renovated space connects directly to the south gym in Carr Hall, allowing students to move seamlessly between classroom instruction, demonstrations and applied learning. The space also includes equipment storage, a student lounge, movable tables, updated technology and HPE-specific signage and resources.

For HPE co-coordinators Dr. Kelly Rogers and Dr. Kim Vigil, that direct connection between the classroom and gym is one of the most important features of the renovation.

“First and foremost, it allows our students to move between the classroom and the gym seamlessly,” Rogers and Vigil said. “Because there is a door from the classroom that connects directly to the south gym, our students can immediately take the information they learn in the classroom and put it into practice in the gym.”

That flexibility reflects the hands-on nature of the HPE program. Students can learn about a teaching method in the classroom, watch a demonstration or video, move directly into the gym to practice the concept and then return to the classroom for discussion and feedback.

The renovated classroom also gives HPE students something the program has not previously had in the same way: a space of their own.

“The classroom allows students to feel connected,” Rogers and Vigil said. “It provides community and identity for the program in a way that just doesn’t happen in a traditional classroom.”

For HPE student Hayden Satterly, having a dedicated space has already changed how students collaborate and develop ideas. Dry-erase boards and other resources allow students to brainstorm together and leave their work in place so classmates can continue building on ideas over time.

Satterly has even started referring to the classroom as “The Lab.”

“It’s huge for the program,” Satterly said. “We get our own space where we can work with each other, and having it connected to a gym is huge because we can take our ideas straight from the classroom to the gym. I’ve been trying to get other students to call it ‘The Lab’ because we can come up with all of these crazy ideas in the classroom and then go test them immediately in the gym.”

That ability to create, test and refine activities is especially valuable for students preparing to become health and physical education teachers and other professionals in the field.

“I can actually practice teaching and creating activities in a space that is similar to what I will use as a teacher,” Satterly said. “It also gives me a place to work with other students, share ideas and learn from each other, which will help me feel more confident when I become an HPE teacher.”

Beyond its impact on current students, the renovated space represents continued momentum for HPE at Murray State. Rogers and Vigil said the investment from the Department of Adolescent, Career and Special Education and the College of Education and Human Services has the potential to support further growth while providing prospective students with a clearer picture of what studying HPE at Murray State entails.

“Prospective students won’t just see a generic classroom with desks and chairs,” Rogers and Vigil said. “Our newly renovated classroom and gym offer a dynamic learning environment where potential students will see faculty and students up moving and demonstrating what physical and health literacy is all about.”

The space arrives during a period of renewed growth for the HPE program. After facing the possibility of being sunsetted only a few years ago, the program now has two dedicated full-time faculty members, adjunct faculty, an advisory committee and partnerships with area schools and community organizations.

“I am very excited about the future of our HPE program,” Rogers and Vigil said. “We are growing in terms of new students, we have two dedicated full-time faculty, a number of dedicated adjunct faculty, an excellent advisory committee and several wonderful community and school partners. The future looks bright for HPE.”

Satterly sees the renovated classroom as a tangible sign of that future.

“Having a space like this shows that the HPE program is growing and that there are a lot of opportunities for future HPE students,” Satterly said. “I think ‘The Lab’ will give students a place to create, test and improve their ideas for years to come.”

The College of Education and Human Services will celebrate the newly renovated HPE classroom with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9 a.m. in Carr Hall room 14. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/HPE-ribbon-cutting.