Alesia Aumock

American Fitness, Nov-Dec, 2003

Since 1984, fitness instructor Alesia "Aerobics" Aumock has inspired the young and "gold" of her hometown, Hillsdale, Michigan. Her contributions to the wellness of the minds and bodies of school children, teens, college students, athletes and other members of her community are numerous. In 1989, Former Hillsdale College Athletic Director, Jack McAvoy, hired Aumock to pilot all aerobics and fitness program at their new Health & Physical Education Sports Complex. For nearly 15 years, the program has offered traditional aerobic dance, aquafit, Step Reebok, slide training, group strength training, kidfit, aerobic kickboxing, Mat Science[R] and a variety of circuit-formatted classes under her direction.

Aumock has also provided free personal training to start community members on a regular fitness regimen.

After her first semester as fitness program coordinator, Aumock began teaching and developing the aerobic dance exercise course for the Health and Physical Education Department. Within a year, she added two new sections. Both the aerobic dance exercise courses and aerobics and fitness program became favorites of Hillsdale College athletes. Then, Aumock began instructing the football team's spring aerobic training program and received the nickname "Superwoman" from the players. Soon, basketball, softball, swimming and volleyball coaches requested separate team workouts throughout the school year. During this time, she continued taking AFAA courses and became certified in Step Reebok, personal training and as a weight training specialist.

In 1997, current athletic director, Dr. Michael Kovalchik, approached Aumock with the college's head cheerleading coach position. For the next three years, she updated the program with dance routines, stunting/tumbling and co-ed athletes. Next, she helped instruct the Methods in Physical Education course and added more sections to it. Aumock also developed the physical education curriculum for Hillsdale Academy, a private K-12 institution located on the Hillsdale College campus. "Inspiring children has been an outstanding chapter in my fitness career. To watch the will and determination on their faces when implementing athletic and fitness building tasks is very fulfilling," she exclaims. "More than 91 percent of the Hillsdale Academy student body are athletes. My 16-year-old son, Kyle, is also a four-sport athlete at the academy."

As 2001 arrived, Aumock obtained her KickBoxing Certification and, along with Kovalchik and colleague Roger Marriot (United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and former Lieutenant of Corrections, Michigan State Police), developed a personal safety course for Hillsdale College students. Now, almost 20 years after she began, the 47-year-old fitness instructor continues to enjoy the aerobics and fitness program's progress. "Just wait until my Summerfit Camp 2004 comes along [for ages 16 and up]," Aumock says. "We are going to ride our bicycles to the lake, go aqua jogging, eat our healthy brown bag lunch at the park, go for a walk/run and then ride our bikes back to the Sports Complex for a Mat Science[R] class. If you see a tee shirt with carpe diem [i.e., seize the day] on the back, it may say Hillsdale College Fitness Program on the front."

Hillsdale Academy students progress with Aumock's The Little Engine That Could "I Think I Can" encouragement while Hillsdale College students receive knowledge from her lectures and practical applications in physical education. She reflects upon the outstanding education she has received from AFAA with great pride. Continuing her quest to touch the lives of many more people, she quotes Michael Murdock: "When champions fall, they simply get back up again."