Students and faculty from Brigham Young University-Idaho’s Exercise Physiology Department presented at the 2025 National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, where they presented original research, networked with professionals, and gained real-world experience in their field.
Faculty members Martin Dietze-Hermosa and Scott Flynn accompanied five students to the national event, where each student presented a research abstract and participated in professional networking with clinicians, educators, and human performance specialists from across the country.
“The abstract students presented will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research,” said Dietze-Hermosa. “Moreover, one of our students, Jacob Scibelli, placed 4th overall among 80 other undergraduate presentations. This marks the second year in a row that a student from BYU-Idaho has placed in the top five for presentations at the national conference.”
Students were evaluated on impact in the field, presentation quality, and overall research rigor. Together, they reported over 150 professional engagements, including interactions with presenters, vendors, and representatives from graduate schools, throughout the multi-day conference.
Dietze-Hermosa said both faculty and students made valuable professional connections.
“Scott connected with graduate schools and vendors, looking at new tools that might enhance our students’ experiences in the program,” he said. “I connected with vendors, businesses, and graduate schools, exploring career, internship, and graduate school placement opportunities. One graduate school even said, ‘We love students from the BYU system. Send us more for our PA, DPT, and OT programs!’”
Students Share Takeaways
For the students, the conference was both a capstone and a catalyst. Senior Ethan Spencer described the experience as “amazing,” highlighting opportunities to meet professionals and present his undergraduate research. “To top it off, I met Dr. Greg Haff, who literally wrote the textbook we study from,” Spencer said. “It was incredible to discuss his methods and my own research with him.”
Aspen Boulter, who plans to pursue graduate studies in strength and conditioning, said the conference reaffirmed her goals. “I talked to students from UC San Diego, Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Point Loma Nazarene, where I hope to attend grad school,” she said. “Meeting Meg Stone, someone I’ve studied and admired, was surreal. She told me to make connections and be confident as a woman coach. That meant everything to me.”
Adam Carter, who presented research on ice hockey performance, said the experience gave him new direction for his career.
“It was inspiring to talk with others about their research and realize there’s always someone interested in what you’re doing,” he said. “I left encouraged and hopeful about my future.”
Another student reflected on the professional standard set by those at the event sharing that “presenting showed me the value of being prepared and the importance of interpersonal skills. I saw firsthand how to improve my research and communication.”
Building on BYU-Idaho’s Mission
For the department, attending national conferences like NSCA is part of BYU-Idaho’s ongoing effort to blend faith and applied learning.
Dietze-Hermosa said that he and his colleagues hope to continue supporting student attendance at national conferences in the future.
“These experiences expand not just their resumes, but their vision of what’s possible,” he said.