Group Fitness Instructors
Get to Know them
Chris Haukos, Fitness Coordinator & Special Events Director
Hi! My name is Chris Haukos & I am the Coordinator of Fitness & Special Programs here at SCSU. I received my Masters Degree in Exercise Science from SCSU & have been working here since 1996. This session I teach Core Strength & Butts n’ Guts. On campus, you may also find me involved in, & coordinating, the RecKids programs & other special events. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband Brad Pickle (Special Events Director) & raising my three sons.
Whitney Olson
Hi! My name is Whitney Olson & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in Business Management with a minor in Spanish & International Business. This session I teach Cycle. This is my third year as an instructor. I've really enjoyed meeting new people & teaching a variety of classes; it has been SUPER FUN!! I'm certified through NETA in Group Fitness, Stability Ball, & Cycle Smart. On campus, you may also find me involved in the Earth Day Half Marathon, & participating in Super Friday’s & Girls in Motion. In my spare time I enjoy working out & active things (I LOVE rollerblading). I also love nights out with the girls, I'm addicted to coffee, & I enjoy downhill skiing. In the future I plan on spending a semester abroad SOON!
Stephanie Soper
Hi! My name is Steph Soper & I am a 5th year student here at SCSU, majoring in Biomedical Science with a minor in Chemistry. This session I teach BOSU Strength. This is my third & a half-year as an instructor, & I am NETA Group Exercise Instructor certified, NETA Cycle Smart certified, and NETA Stability Ball certified. I also have experience teaching a Cardio Circuit Class at Gold’s Gym in Shakopee, MN for one summer, & have attended the following NETA Workshops:Stability Ball, Cycle Smart,Fusion (Pilates & Yoga), Total Body Conditioning, & BOSU Complete Workout. On campus, you may also find me involved in the Medical Professions Association (MPA) as Treasurer for the year. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family & friends, watching movies & the TV show “Friends,” shopping, exercising, & vacationing. In the future I plan to continue my education by going to PA school to become a Physician’s Assistant. Eventually, I want to get settled in a profession in the medical field. Someday, I plan to get married & start a family!!
Rebecca Nieters
Hi! My name is Rebecca Nieters & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in Advertising with a minor in Marketing. This session I teach Yoga, BOSU & Tri-it. This is my second year as an instructor & I received my national certification in Yoga, Cycling & Group Fitness. I have attended a wide variety of classes & hope to get my Personal Training Certification. On campus, you may also find me being a CA in Holes Hall or participating in other organizations. In the future I hope to graduate in 2009, find a job, get married, have a family & always keep health and fitness a big part of my life!
Christina Lunde
Hi! My name is Christina Lunde & I am a senior here at SCSU, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Human Relations. This session I teach Butts n’ Guts. This is my third year as an instructor. On campus, you may also find me involved in the SCSU Choir. In my spare time I enjoy playing tennis, going for walks, spending time with family & friends, running, exercising, staying busy & participating as a member of the Minnesota Dance Ensemble. In the future I plan to graduate in May of 2008.
Kim Aijala
Hi! My name is Kim Aijala & I am an SCSU Alumni. As a student here I majored in Social Sciences. This session I teach Cardio Kick. I have been an instructor here for a couple of years. In my spare time I enjoy walking, show-shoeing, movies, reading & laying on the beach.
Karen Wenz
Hi! My name is Karen Wenz & I am a post grad student focusing on English & Film Studies. This session I teach Yoga. This is my seventh year as an instructor & I am also NETA Yoga certified. I have attended many workshops including NETA Vinyasa Yoga, AEA Deep Water workshop, AEA Choreography workshop, NETA Cycling, Stability Ball, and Fusion (Pilates/Yoga) workshops. In my spare time I enjoy skiing, swimming, reading, watching movies, traveling, rollerblading& hiking. In the future I would like to travel to Europe.
Lindsay Johnson
Hi! My name is Lindsay Johnson & I am a senior here at SCSU, majoring in Biomedical Science & Psychology. This session I teach H.I.T., Cardio Kick, Butts n’ Guts & Pilates. This is my second year as an instructor & I am NETA certified in Kick Boxing, Stability Ball & Fusion. On campus, you may also find me involved in the Medical Professions Association, working at Lindgren Child Care Center & studying to become a Personal Trainer. In my spare time I enjoy running, working out, watching movies, volunteering, rollerblading, biking, being outside & knee-boarding. In the future I plan on going to Physical Therapy school & after that hopefully working in a children's hospital. Hopefully, one day, I will own my own practice, get married & have kids.
Alicia Hayden
Hi! My name is Alicia Hayden & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in Nursing. This session I teach Hip-Hop Cardio. This is my second year as an instructor & I have worked with several professional dance instructors. On campus, you may also find me on the SCSU Dance Team. In my spare time I enjoy dancing.
Ashley Hall
Hi! My name is Ashley Hall & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in Biomedical Science with a minor in Business. This session I teach Cycle, Butts n’ Guts & Cardio Kick. This is my second year as an instructor. On campus, you may also find me involved in the Husky Cheer Team & Concert Choir. In my spare time I enjoy singing, playing disc golf, dominoes, listening to music, reading about natural medicine & sleeping. In the future I plan to make a music CD & open my own naturopathic clinic… and to be an AMAZING Group Fitness instructor!
Laura Sather
Hi! My name is Laura Sather & I am a Statistics teacher here at SCSU. This session I teach Yoga II. This is my second year as an instructor & I have completed Christ Centered Yoga Teacher Training, by Marsha T. Metzger. On campus, you may find me teaching, teaching & teaching some more! In my spare time I enjoy playing piano, reading books, playing cards, listening to music & watching Husker Football (Go Big Red!!). In the future I would like to eventually buy a house, so I can open my own Yoga & piano studios.
Missy Knudson
Hi! My name is Missy Knudson & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in Communication Arts & Literature. This session I teach Butts n’ Guts Extreme, Pilates & Step. This is my second year as an instructor & first year as our Group Fitness Co-Coordinator. On campus, you may also find me involved in the National Society for Collegiate Scholars or tutoring at the Write Place. In my spare time I enjoy going to my cabin, listening to music, taking my dog for a walk & clipping coupons. In the future I hope to be teaching English/Speech at a secondary level, raising a family of two kids & two dogs, & married to the man of my dreams :)
Britt Popelka
Hi! My name is Britt Popelka & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in Business Management with a minor in Real Estate. This session I teach Cycle, H.I.T & Butts n’ Guts. This is my second year as an instructor & I am NETA Total Body Conditioning certified. On campus, you may also find me as the Group Fitness Co-Coordinator. In my spare time I enjoy being with family & friends, working out, playing & watching sports (especially hockey), riding motorcycles, & doing anything outdoors! In the future I plan to do whatever makes me happy & be successful at it!
Vana Greischar
Hi! My name is Vana Greischar & I am a senior here at SCSU, majoring in Business Management, Human Resources & Psychology. This session I teach Yoga. This is my first year as an instructor & I am NETA certified in Yoga. In my spare time I enjoy traveling. In the past I have been on two study abroad programs: one in England and another in China. St. Cloud State really knows how to study abroad!I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family. In the future I plan to graduate from St. Cloud State (in December), & then possibly join the peace corp. or work abroad.
Miho Kanai
Hi! My name is Miho Kanai & I am a senior here at SCSU, majoring in Psychology. This session I teach H.I.T & Butts n’ Guts. This is my first year as an instructor, so I want to do my best for the students! In my spare time I enjoy traveling. In the future I will be working in California.
Whitnee Fester
Hi! My name is Whitnee Fester and I am a 4th year student here at SCSU, majoring in Sports Management. This session I teach Cycle. This is my first year as an instructor & I am very excited to teach something I love doing. I am NETA certified as well. On campus, you may also find me involved in Intramural's& on the Campus Rec Staff. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family & friends, & taking on a new adventure. In the future I plan to move to Colorado & do something in the fitness area.
Amanda Spaeth
Hi! My name is Amanda Spaeth & I am a junior here at SCSU, majoring in: "I will be in school for the rest of my life." This session I teach Yoga, H.I.T. & Core Strength. This is my second year as an instructor. In conjunction with my group fitness certification, I also have certifications in No Equipment Needed, Cycle Smart, BOSU, Total Body Conditioning, and excited for Boot Camp in December! On campus, you may also find me in the fitness center Personal Training, and programming for RecKids. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, working out, hanging out with friends, and trying new things! In the future, you will see my jumping out of planes, on the sides of mountains, and country hoppin’. :)
