Ian Connole, Ph.D., of Hamilton, has been awarded the Distinguished Student Practice Award by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), an international professional organization that promotes the field of sport and exercise psychology. The award was presented recently at the annual AASP conference in New Orleans, La., and recognizes outstanding and innovative service delivery in the field by a student member of AASP. Connole was nominated for the award earlier this year while working on his doctorate at West Virginia University for his work developing the first comprehensive sport psychology services and programming at Waynesburg University and the Nate Smith Basketball School.

A certified consultant of AASP, Connole is a staff counselor at Colgate University and provides a variety of psychological services for the general student population. He specializes in sport psychology consultation, stress management, coaching education, and psychological skill enhancement for athletes and other performers.

Connole earned his master’s degrees from California State University at Fullerton and West Virginia University. He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University, where he was Graduate Student President, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Outstanding Graduate Student in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and a Dissertation Fellowship Award winner. He is an active member of AASP and of the American Counseling Association.