When Kendall Ellis ’26 (Exercise Science, Pre-Med) first learned about the connection between science and sports while in high school, her passion for exercise science began to develop. This passion led her to the University of Indianapolis, where she worked on and presented a research project that was awarded at the 2025 Midwest American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
During Ellis’s senior year of high school, she committed to UIndy to play soccer and study exercise science. At UIndy, she appreciates the learning opportunities she has and the support of her professors.
“I think one of my favorite things about UIndy is that I’ve never had a bad professor here,” said Ellis.
While Ellis has had great experiences with many professors, she is particularly grateful to Dr. Joe Burnell in the chemistry department and Dr. Trent Cayot in the exercise science department for serving as her mentors. Dr. Cayot guided Ellis throughout her research project and encouraged her to present it at the Midwest ACSM conference.
“Without him, I don’t think I would have been as confident as I am with my presentation skills and researching skills and my overall confidence in the classroom. He’s made a huge impact on my academic journey at UIndy,” said Ellis.
Ellis learned of the opportunity to participate in the research project when she was feeling uncertain about her career.
“I went to Dr. Cayot, and I was telling him that I have no idea what I want to do with my career,” said Ellis. “With exercise science, there are a lot of different routes, but some of them are a little more hidden than others. You have physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training, but I’ve shadowed those and didn’t necessarily fit with any of them. During that conversation, he brought up his previous research and the research he was planning on doing for this particular study. And so I went for it and asked, ‘Hey, can I join?’ And without a doubt, he said, ‘Come on in.’”
Ellis’ research project, “Feasibility Study On The Effects Of Cognitive Fatigue On Response Time And Decision-Making Quality,” examines how different types of fatigue can impact response time and decision-making, particularly for individuals in law enforcement. The study aims to promote safety and effectiveness in law enforcement and other tactical fields. Ellis presented her research at the annual Midwest ACSM conference and was awarded the 2025 Undergraduate Student Research Award.
“I’m so grateful, and I didn’t think winning this award was possible, honestly,” said Ellis. “I have a lot of respect for Dr. Cayot and how he handles situations like this. He uses the word humble, and I’ve been trying to embrace that. It’s very easy to take this and run with it, but I am trying to appreciate what I’ve learned throughout this process.”
After she graduates, Ellis hopes to attend physician assistant (PA) school to become a PA. While it may not be the typical path of an exercise science major, Ellis hopes to apply her exercise science knowledge to become a successful PA and have a unique perspective in the field.
“Going into this conference and my last few semesters of classes, instead of thinking, ‘This doesn’t apply to my goal as a PA,’ I’m trying to think, ‘How can I apply this to my job as a PA?’” said Ellis.
Ellis hopes that anyone interested in studying exercise science at UIndy will explore the wide range of opportunities available.
“Don’t be deterred from exercise science if you don’t want to be a PT, OT, AT, or a strength coach,” said Ellis. “There are so many opportunities, and you just have to be open to exploring those paths, so don’t be afraid to shadow people, introduce yourself, and just ask around.”