The 2026 HHP Games will be held on Thursday October 8th, 2026, in Room M201 (Melcher Life Sciences Building). This event is designed to give HHP students an opportunity to compete in educational events to obtain scholarships. There are a couple of events that are simply just for fun, and winners of those events will receive either a gift card or HHP Swag. While there are some degree level specific events, most events are open to HHP students in all degree levels.
Games Day Schedule (Tentative)
| TIME | ROOM M201 | ROOM M208 | ROOM M215 |
| 12pm | Wheelchair Games 12-12:45 | Jeopardy Quiz Bowl 12:45-1:30 | Anatomage Table Game 12.45 - 1.30 |
| 1pm | Food brawl-1:30-2.30pm | E-sports Games 1:30-2pm | |
| 2pm | Lab-Lympics (completed by 2:45pm) | MAT Case Reports 2:15-3:00 | |
| 3pm | Ping Pong: 3:00 - 4:00 | ||
| 4pm | Elevator Pitch 4:15-4:45pm | ||
| 5pm | 4:50pm Awards |
Undergrad Students:
E-Sports Tournament (Gift Card Award)
Students will compete in a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tournament on Nintendo Switch. This tournament will be set up as a bracket-style competition. Participants will race through a four-course Grand Prix consisting of Mario Kart Stadium, Electrodrome, Neo Bowser City, and Rainbow Road. Rounds will consist of 4 players per race, with points awarded based on finishing position in each course. At the end of the Grand Prix, the racer with the lowest overall point total will be eliminated, while the remaining racers will advance to the next round. The tournament will continue until a champion is crowned. Strategy, speed, and smart item usage will be key to navigating these iconic tracks and advancing through the bracket.
Jeopardy Quiz Bowl (Scholarship)
How well do you know exercise science? Compete to win a chance to attend the Texas ACSM meeting in Waco in February 2027 and represent UH to compete against other teams from across the state. Sign up individually or as a team (2-3 students) for this Jeopardy-style competition. We will test your knowledge in exercise physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, exercise testing and prescription, and other related subjects. Good luck!!
MAT Students:
MAT Case Reports (Scholarship)
MAT students complete a case report on a unique patient injury, documenting the patient's background, injury history, interventions, outcomes, and clinical bottom line. During this competition, students will present a brief summary of their case and highlight key lessons learned from the patient's care.
Presentations will be evaluated on the overview of the case, intervention strategy, patient outcomes, clinical significance, delivery, and time management. This event provides students with an opportunity to showcase their clinical reasoning, communication skills, and ability to apply athletic training concepts to real-world patient care.
PHD Students:
Elevator Pitch: (Multiple Scholarships)
Ph.D. Elevator Pitch 2026 – Sign up
Students will pitch their research/proposal to judges in a 2-3 minute speech. We are looking for Confidence, Clarity and Conciseness. You will lose points for being under 2 minutes or for exceeding 3 mins. You cannot have any visual aids.
You will be judged on –
- Content: Significance: Give an overview of your research in vivid words what it is about, why it is important and why everybody should pay attention.
- Problem: Show what is in our way right now. What do we not yet know, what is not yet working?
- Solution: How your research solves the problem. What role you play in finding a solution.
- Benefit: How the results of your research will or already have shown benefits or expanded our knowledge.
- Delivery: confidence, professionalism
- Time: presented within given time.
Judges will evaluate presentations on the criteria above and the top students will receive scholarships.
All Degree Levels:
Food Brawl: Space Station Snacks: Protein Packed (Scholarship)
Space Station Snacks: Protein Packed, this is a cook-off where you’ll design a high-protein
snack that could be eaten in space!
Each entry must meet the following requirements:
- Contain 15–20g of protein
- Be zero-gravity friendly, mess-free, and easy to handle.
Snacks will be judged on the following categories:
- Protein content (10 pts): Each serving contains 15-20g protein
- Space Functionality (45 pts): Zero-gravity friendly, mess-free, portable, and easy to handle
- Taste & Texture (25 pts): Flavor, balance, and overall eating experience
- Creativity & Innovation (20 pts): Follows space theme, presentation, originality, and unique approach
- Bonus points will be given for creative packaging and unique protein sources.
Students will need to research and create a nutritional facts label for the food item. Students will also write a paper of 200 words or less describing how their item meets the requirements.
Students will need to create a recipe that fits a set of criteria listed above. They will also bring their creation to the event for judges to try. The winner will receive a scholarship. There will also be a “Golden Bite” award that will go to a contestant as well. The Golden Bite award will be voted on by anyone who shows up to Games.
Ping Pong Tournament (Gift Card):
This event is open to students, faculty, and staff. Teams of up to 3 people can be a combination of students and faculty. Teammates are allowed to swap players between points scored. The games will be in a tournament style. Games will be single elimination style and last 5 minutes long. The winning team will move on to the next round. The final winners will be awarded gift cards and the Golden Paddle Award. You must preregister for this event.
Wheelchair Relay (Gift Card):
Students will compete in a series of wheelchair agility skills. They will team up in groups of 3. If students do not have a group of 3 at sign-up, they can team assigned to them at Games upon arrival.
Lab-Lympics (Gift Card):
Students will compete in a series of mini games: carnival style to test their skills in various formats. Each lab will have a mini game you can complete. Games will consist of a pipet relay, push up contest, a wheelchair obstacle course, swirling targets, and digital anatomy.
Astronaut Taste Training (HHP Swag):
Before astronauts launch into space, they must understand how different foods fuel the body and support performance. In the Astronaut Taste Training: Fuel for Flight Challenge, participants will put their senses and nutrition knowledge to the test by sampling a series of mystery foods while their eyes are closed.
Students will taste one item from each category and attempt to identify the food or flavor. After making their selection, participants will also determine the food's primary nutrient source: carbohydrate, protein, or fat.
Each correct food identification and nutrient classification earns points. Participants who achieve a perfect score will receive an entry into a gift card drawing, while all other participants will have the opportunity to select an item from the HHP swag bucket.
Mission Control: The Human Body. Digital Anatomy on the Anatomage Table. (HHP Swag & Gift Cards):
Put your anatomy knowledge to the test using the Anatomage Table, a state-of-the-art virtual dissection and anatomy visualization system. Participants will be shown a series of anatomical structures and asked to correctly identify muscles, bones, organs, nerves, or other body regions displayed on the table.
The challenge will be conducted in rounds of 8 participants at a time. Competitors will earn points for each correct identification, and the participant with the highest score in each round will receive one ticket for a gift card drawing. All other participants will have the opportunity to select one item from the HHP Swag Bucket.
This interactive event is designed to reinforce anatomy knowledge while showcasing the technology used throughout HHP programs. Whether you're an anatomy expert or just looking to test your skills, this challenge offers a fun and engaging way to explore the human body.