Western Illinois University Students Enhance Classroom Skills Through Work at YMCA Circus Academy
A group of Western Illinois University students have found part-time work through an artistic endeavor at the McDonough County YMCA, which teaches class members gymnastics and circus-related skills, and has resulted in educational lessons for the young women.
Junior social work major Jessie Fansler; junior exercise science major Whitney Piper; and sophomore agriculture science major Alyssa Ring, all of Macomb, are coaches within the YMCA’s Circus Academy, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend with free Friday and Saturday performances, at 6:30 p.m. each day in the center’s main gym.
All three women said the experience with the academy has taught them a lot they can use within their future careers, and their experience at WIU has helped them with their coaching skills.
This work is good for interacting with different people and with different personalities,” said Ring. “We have to move fast under stress, and that will help me when I become a veterinarian.”
Through the program, director Amy Fansler Milas, and her WIU-student coaches teach aerial activities, including lyrical hoop, cloud swing, trapeze, juggling, clowning skills and ball acrobatics to students of all ages. For all three WIU students, they began volunteering with the program and their coaching eventually turned into a part-time job.
Piper, who wants to become a physical therapist, said her experience with the circus program has helped her with her classroom work and studies at Western.
“This circus experience has helped me more at WIU,” said Piper. “I knew how to run a group class and work with different age ranges, but now I know how to work with kids through exercise.”
Fansler said her goal, to work as an elementary school counselor, is intertwined with her coaching and her education.
“A lot of these kids don’t fit in traditional sports and through working with them, I get a lot out of that,” she said. “It also helps me with my communication skills.”
The YMCA’s Circus Academy began in 2011 and was started by Milas.
“I was already a fitness instructor for the McDonough County YMCA at that time,” she said. “My three children were ages 7, 10 and 13, and were at a good age and were athletic and able to help me start the program. I went to Illinois State University for my undergrad, and was a member of the Gamma Phi Circus gymnastics fraternity for my four years at ISU. I had also been a gymnast from ages 3-18, and had a lot of experience teaching children gymnastics. My own children and I, along with much volunteer help, started the circus here in Macomb.”
More than 400 local children have passed through the circus skills program in its 10-year history.
“Some kids stay for years; others pass through after only one session, moving on to other things,” Milas said. “We like to boast our program teaches much more than acrobatics and circus skills. Kids in our circus program learn the meaning of sweat equity, as well as responsibility, stage presence, working together with others for a common goal, discipline and so much more. We couldn’t run this program without the tremendous efforts of our WIU student help – they are passionate and hard-working. Running this program is a labor of love for me as well as my coaches, and we hope our performances show the love we have for the program and the circus students enrolled.”
Milas said the program has also been helped by numerous local businesses through the donations of materials or money, including Ace Hardware, Gentry Motor Company, Nelsons Clothing, Sports Corner, the McDonough Power Cooperative and more.
For more information about the Circus Academy, call Milas at the McDonough County YMCA at (309) 833-2129.
