Bella Neish, a recent graduate of the fall 2024 class, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science and is now embarking on the next chapter of her journey. She is pursuing a Master of Education in Exercise Science, further deepening her knowledge and expertise in the field. Originally from Moriarty, New Mexico, Bella was involved in sports and various school organizations throughout her academic career.

Reflecting on her early experiences, Bella explained she was involved with livestock evaluation, where she was highly competitive and won multiple state titles. This dedication led her to a scholarship opportunity at Butler Community College in El Dorado, where she judged livestock for a year. However, she eventually realized that her true passion lay elsewhere. "I stepped away from that, changed my major to exercise science, and started tutoring. In a last-minute decision, I went to WSU. It turned out to be the best decision I could have made."

Bella credits Wichita State's emphasis on applied learning for significantly shaping her professional development. "I feel like the applied learning experience was by far the most beneficial aspect of my degree because I worked really hard in the classroom, and being able to apply, learn, and adapt to the real world has given me confidence as a professional. I feel like I have an edge in my field." During her time at WSU, Bella worked as a Physical Therapy Technician at Advanced Physical Therapy, gaining valuable experience in rehabilitation and clinical environments. Additionally, she served as a Registered Behavioral Technician for Summit Behavioral Services, where she learned about human development and how to support others. She still holds this position while also working as a Personal Trainer at Amplify, a role she secured after interning there in the fall of 2024. These experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her into a well-rounded professional.

Her work extends beyond traditional personal training, as she currently collaborates with notable athletes and teams. One of her primary clients is amateur MMA fighter Devin Gomez, who fights for NextGen Fight Team in Wichita. "I work with him 1-3 times a week, focusing on MMA-specific needs like injury prevention, power development, relative strength, and even things like neck strength and endurance to improve his chin. I also work with his fight team once a week as a group, tailoring workouts to prepare them for upcoming fights." Bella also trains Shockwave Volleyball Club and the WSU Shocker Rowing Team, further diversifying her expertise. In addition to her training responsibilities, she contributes as a Social Media Content Creator at Amplify, managing digital engagement and outreach.

Beyond her hands-on work in exercise science, Bella has ventured into new territory through her involvement with NASA SUITS. The NASA SUITS challenge is a software development challenge where NASA releases a "mission" requiring a team to develop software to solve complex problems. Bella explains that this year the challenge is to exploring the lunar South Pole. Bella's team proposal was accepted so now they are developing the proposed software, networking with professionals, and reaching out to the community. Bella learned about the NASA SUITS challenge from one of her professors and credits the experience with helping her realize just how much her exercise science degree encompasses. 

Bella has also achieved her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification. Bella explains the importance of this certification saying, "this certification is considered the gold standard in our field because it requires a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and a very challenging exam with a low passing rate." A CSCS certification distinguishes Bella as a qualified professional. 

One of Bella’s standout experiences at WSU was competing in the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) Central States Conference as part of the Exercise Science Quiz Bowl Team. Bella competed against other colleges in the region by answering trivia questions related to exercise science. The conference gave Bella the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and test her professional knowledge.

Bella continues to take on multiple roles and responsibilities. A current graduate school student, she is also a personal trainer and social media content creator at Amplify, coaches Shockwave Volleyball and the WSU Rowing Team, works as an RBT for Summit Behavioral Services, and contributes to the NASA SUITS challenge. Despite her packed schedule, she embraces her applied learning experiences with enthusiasm and dedication.

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Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.

For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.