Sarah Wentworth: Future health educator earns national recognition for service

Growing up in Falmouth, Maine, Sarah Wentworth says she always loved school and playing sports. She was a three-sport athlete at Falmouth High School, playing field hockey in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. 

“All my mentors were teachers or coaches, or both,” says Wentworth, now a senior at the University of Maine.

After starting her college journey at Clemson University, Wentworth transferred to UMaine following her freshman year, and says it’s one of the best decisions of her life. A kinesiology and physical education major with a concentration in teaching and coaching, she’s found a community in the School of Kinesiology, Physical Education and Athletic Training, part of the UMaine College of Education and Human Development. 

“We’re a close-knit group of like-minded individuals,” she says. “All of the professors and my classmates, we’re like family.”

One of the ways UMaine has made a difference in her life, Wentworth says, is by providing opportunities to engage in leadership and community service. As a member of the Physical Education Student Organization (PESO), she helped put together a clothing drive last year that collected donations for the Old Town-Orono YMCA. She’s a student representative on the board of the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) and has attended the group’s annual conference the past two years. She’s currently president of the UMaine women’s club lacrosse team and coaches youth lacrosse, both in Falmouth and with Wicked North Lacrosse, an organization based in Hampden that aims to get high school girls involved with the sport.

“Sports has always been my outlet and something that pushed me,” Wentworth says. “I love mentoring younger girls, watching them grow and helping them build confidence and realize their potential.”

Recently, Wentworth was recognized by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America with one of the organization’s Major of the Year awards, which celebrate outstanding undergraduate students in the fields of health, physical education, recreation and dance. Students, who are nominated for the awards by faculty members at their schools, must be in their junior or senior year, with a 3.0 or higher grade point average and a two-year track record of service to a school or community during their undergraduate career.

“Sarah’s energy is contagious,” says Jennifer McNulty, lecturer of health education and lifespan in the College of Education and Human Development. “She strives to be relevant and engaging in every topic she teaches and every activity she coaches. Her future students are really going to be lucky to have her.” 

“Sarah is an outstanding representative of our teaching program and we are excited that her efforts have garnered this national recognition,” adds Shannan Fotter, lecturer in kinesiology and physical education. “She has continuously delivered high-quality instruction to students of all ages and abilities throughout her time at UMaine, and her knowledge, leadership and kindness are just a few of the qualities that make her an excellent choice for this honor.”

SHAPE America will hold a ceremony to recognize its Major of the Year recipients at the group’s national convention and expo in Cleveland, March 12-16. Wentworth, who is completing her student teaching field placement this semester, will not be able to attend. But she says it’s still an honor.

“Leadership comes naturally to me and it’s where I see myself contributing through groups like PESO, MAHPERD and club lacrosse, and with my coaching,” she says. “To be recognized for being a leader and giving back, it really means a lot.”

After she graduates in May, Wentworth will be eligible to become certified as both a physical education and health teacher in Maine. Although she enjoys both, her first student teaching placement this semester was in a health class at Bangor High School, and she says that’s now what she’s leaning toward. 

“I’m really passionate about getting students off their phones, off screens and outside,” she says. “It’s so important for their mental and physical health, and they love having the time and space to build friendships and bonds.”

Through her classes and the various extracurricular activities she’s taken part in at UMaine, Wentworth says she feels prepared for anything that comes next.

“I met a ton of Black Bears when I was at the MAHPERD conference last fall,” she says. “So I already have all these connections and all these experiences. UMaine has opened so many doors for me.”

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu