Exercise Science 2023 grad and U.S. Navy veteran earns B.S. at SMSU and works as a master personal trainer
Noah Cuchna, 29, graduated with honors and a 3.93 GPA from Inver Hills Community College in 2023 with an Associate of Science (A.S.) in Exercise Science. Noah went on to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science from Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in Marshall, Minnesota, graduating in 2025 with honors and a 4.0 GPA. Today, he works at Fitness International (LA Fitness) as a master personal trainer, an exceptionally experienced fitness professional with advanced certifications and expertise. He is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer.
Noah receiving his diploma at 2023 Inver Hills Commencement
“I believe in lifetime wellness, meaning that I train my clients with the focus of building a framework that can be sustained over the lifespan and that can impact their daily lives in a positive way,” Noah said. “While I train clients based on specific needs such as sports performance or for weight loss, I also train my clients by giving them workouts and exercises that can translate to activities of daily living and that can make them feel good as they progress through life.”
Along with his job at Fitness International, Noah works as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Two Rivers High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. He also coached the Two Rivers freshman basketball team last season and is now an assistant varsity basketball coach for all levels at the high school. He has served as a Special Olympics coach for swimming and bocce ball events since April 2022.
U.S. Navy experience
Noah in U.S. Navy; Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) freshwater washdown
Noah served in the U.S. Navy from 2015 to 2021. His rank was petty officer second class (PO2)—that’s a midlevel noncommissioned officer who serves as a proficient technical expert and leader/role model for junior sailors. Petty officers are considered the “workhorses of the Navy.”
Noah’s portrait from U.S. Navy boot camp
Noah was in the weapons department on the ship and worked more specifically in the combat gunnery division. He went to school for just under two years and was one of only a few qualified sailors to work on and operate the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), the last line of defense for Navy ships.
He described it as “the thing that looks like R2-D2” in all the Navy movies and noted that it was “a very complex system, requiring lots of maintenance, troubleshooting, and patience to work with.”
When asked what inspired him to join the U.S. Navy, Noah said: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school. I wanted to play basketball at a JUCO or NAIA school, but didn’t pursue it as seriously as I could have. I had a high school friend who joined the Navy a year before me, and they told me to go for it. Being that I didn’t want to go into debt, I decided to enlist. I also joined for the experiences, to travel the world, and to carry on my family’s tradition, as my uncle and great grandfather also served in the Navy.”
U.S. Navy separation Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Noah was deployed to the Middle East in 2018 – 2019. He served onboard two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Mitscher (DDG-57) and USS Gravely (DDG-107). When he opted to attend Inver Hills after completing his six-year enlistment, he found that Military & Veteran Services helped him adapt to college life.
“I initially and mainly worked with Sue Flannigan [Inver Hills military and veteran services coordinator], who helped me get set up for college at Inver Hills,” he said. “Without her, I don’t think I would’ve been as prepared to start school as I was. While she is now retired, I did receive help from the other veterans coordinators and everyone helped me out greatly.”
Noah Cuchna U.S. Navy gallery
Noah visiting his grandfather while on leave
Noah with his dad (post deployment)
Noah’s portrait from U.S. Navy boot camp
Loading rounds in CIWS gundrum
Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) training qualification
U.S. Navy separation Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
CIWS C School
Standing watch on DDG 107
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement for CIWS casualty fix
Standing watch on .50 caliber machine gun
CIWS mentors on DDG57
Taking apart CIWS gundrum for maintenance
Gunshoot
Faculty perspective: Christine Petrich, MEd
Christine Petrich, MEd
“Noah exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding student—curious, thoughtful, and eager to learn. His dedication reflects the spirit of the Exercise Science program, a dynamic field that continues to grow and evolve. Although career paths in Exercise Science are not always linear, success often stems from creativity and a willingness to explore diverse opportunities.
“For those drawn to the science of movement, the promotion of physical activity, or the pursuit of helping athletes and everyday individuals reach their full potential, Exercise Science offers a future rich with possibility and lifelong learning. Beyond traditional roles such as physical education teachers, coaches, or physical therapists, the field opens doors to exciting opportunities in sports psychology, prosthetic design, wellness careers, occupational therapy, sports management, exercise physiology, and more. As more people seek to improve their mobility, health, and performance, the discipline continues to expand in meaningful ways.
“It is a privilege to work with students like Noah, who embrace education as a chance to learn, grow, and share their talents—ultimately making a positive impact in the lives of others.”
Christine Petrich, MEd Exercise Science Faculty Inver Hills Community College
More about Noah…
Noah and Kiara at Deady Dozen 2025
Originally from South St. Paul, Minnesota, Noah graduated from South St. Paul High School, Class of 2015. His mom, Julie, is an Inver Hills alumna who graduated in the early 1980s and is currently a PCA. His dad, Chuck, graduated from the Dakota County Area Vocational Technical Institute (DCAVTI), now Dakota County Technical College (DCTC), also in the 1980s, and currently works at Plastic Printers Co. in Hastings, Minnesota.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Noah has one sister, Liza, 31, who graduated from Inver Hills in 2016. She is a paraprofessional and bartender. Noah has two brothers, Levi and Luke. Levi, 32, is a facilities technician and custodial specialist at the YMCA, and Luke, 38, is a roofing contractor and landscaper who lives in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Luke has three boys.
Noah’s girlfriend, Kiara, is a college partnerships advisor at Saint Paul College. “Kiara loves helping students find careers they can excel at, and she is one of the best if not the best advisor in the state!” Noah said. “Kiara and I have a tuxedo cat named Tobi. He is her cat from when she went to school at Washington State University, but he is now also my cat! We love him!”
Noah was a former basketball player who enjoys his role as a high school basketball coach. “Not only do I love the game of basketball, but I also love helping our athletes become better players, teammates, and young men as well,” he said. “Being someone that they can count on to believe in them is something I don’t take lightly. I try to make sure they know that I will always root for them, and I’ll always have their backs.”
Noah was a singer at South St. Paul High School, performing in choir, show choir, and a varsity singers a cappella group.
Noah and Kiara grouse hunting
“I even took Class Voice I and II at Inver Hills with Jen Parker as an elective seven years after my final choir concert!” he said. “I love singing, and I’m so glad I took lessons at Inver Hills because it showed me that even as we grow up, we’re never too old to continue doing the things we love. I am so thankful for Jen for believing in me and encouraging me to continue singing.”
Noah and Kiara love competing in fitness events. “I try to always train toward something to challenge myself,” he said. “I have competed in a triathlon, a marathon, and a CrossFit-type competition called the Deadly Dozen. Kiara and I both recently completed our second Deadly Dozen in Chicago, smashing our personal record time from the summer.
“I am currently training for a half-ironman that I’ll compete in next July, and Kiara is training for a DEKA Fit competition and a few half-marathons. I still play in men’s basketball rec-leagues and softball rec-leagues. I love to be outdoors. I have picked up hobbies such as disc golfing, fishing, and hunting in the last few years. I also have always been into any type of sports, playing baseball, soccer, tennis and football as well as basketball growing up, which is why I love working with athletes so much.”
Noah Cuchna family and life gallery
Noah and Kiara at Deadly Dozen 2025
Coaching Special Olympics swimming
Noah and his siblings
Noah and Kiara grouse hunting
Visiting Mac Miller mural in Pittsburg
Noah with mom at Inver Hills graduation
Two Rivers HS basketball coaches
SMSU graduation
Boundary Waters
Noah and Kiara at Deady Dozen 2025
Tobi
Coaching freshman basketball game at Two Rivers HS
Tobi
Ely Marathon 2024
2023 Inver Hills Commencement
Noah receiving his diploma at 2023 Inver Hills Commencement
Grouse hunting
2023 Inver Hills Commencement
2023 Inver Hills Commencement
2023 Inver Hills Commencement
2023 Inver Hills Commencement
2023 Inver Hills Commencement
Noah Cuchna • Q & A
Noah Cuchna
What motivated you to choose exercise science as your career focus?
As crazy as it sounds, I became infatuated with fitness while on deployment. Our “gym” on the ship was a small, old storage closet. We made it work with what equipment we had, and ever since then, I have had a passion for fitness.
What did you like best about the Exercise Science program at Inver Hills?
I think the best thing about Exercise Science at Inver Hills are the instructors. They all are really passionate about their areas of expertise, and they really helped me understand just how pivotal each area is to overall health and wellness.
How did your Inver Hills experience help you successfully transfer to Southwest Minnesota State University to earn your bachelor’s degree?
My professor, Christine [Petrich], helped me connect with the SMSU advisor for EXSCI as she was also interested in how the transition aspect for potential future students worked, so that helped me network.
Coursework-wise, all the things we did at Inver Hills really translated to the coursework at SMSU. Most, if not all, of the things I learned at Inver Hills either directly translated to my courses at SMSU or were things I looked back on to help me succeed. I was very well prepared for my final two years because of what I learned at Inver Hills.
Three words that describe you as a personal trainer:
DEDICATED. APPROACHABLE. ENCOURAGING.
What do you find most rewarding about your work as a master personal trainer?
Helping people achieve their fitness/wellness goals, whatever those may be. Whether it’s losing weight, training to help make a sports team, or getting stronger for activities of daily living, I find joy in helping people find a passion for fitness the same way I found it in that old storage closet back on deployment.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
Not sure I can answer this one for you right now. I’ll have to think about it more.
If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?
World peace.
Two words that best describe your experience at Inver Hills:
INCLUSIVE and WELCOMING
Noah Cuchna • 12 Answers
Favorite sport or physical activity: Basketball
Place you would most like to visit: Switzerland
Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Jump off the flight deck for a swim call in the middle of the ocean off the coast of the Bahamas
Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Buy into the ownership group of the Timberwolves 2) Tattoo the rest of my body (except the face) 3) Buy a nice house and build my own gym/sports performance facility
Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: I don’t watch many movies so probably Ocean’s Eleven. Otherwise, my two favorite reality TV shows right now are Ink Masters and Survivor
Time period you would explore if you could time travel: North America pre-U.S. settlement
One thing you most want to accomplish in life: I just want to make a difference in people’s lives in a positive way, whether that be through fitness or some other avenue; I enjoy helping people
Your national bird if you were your own country: Burrowing owl
Dream occupation: Head basketball coach for the Timberwolves/Gophers
Person you would most like to meet: Living: Jaden McDaniels and Joji; Deceased: Mac Miller and Juice WRLD
Skill you would most like to learn and master: Playing the piano
Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Fascism, genocide
Earning your Transfer Pathway A.S. in Exercise Science is a launching pad toward a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) at Minnesota State universities.
Exercise science professionals work in the corporate world, healthcare, education, and sports at all levels, or follow an entrepreneurial route. Our wide variety of courses are also perfect for completing physical activity obligations for four-year degrees.
The Exercise Science Transfer Pathway A.S. curriculum has been specifically designed so that you can complete your associate degree and transfer with junior-year status to a Minnesota State university to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in a number of majors, including, exercise and sport science, kinesiology, physical education, or human performance.
As a student in this A.S. degree program, you’ll complete the Pathway Curriculum (20 credits) and the General Education Curriculum (40 credits) for a credit total of 60.
This A.S. degree is part of a Minnesota State system agreement and will articulate with all other system universities and some Twin Cities metro area private institutions. This associate degree program prepares you to transfer to a four-year program in exercise science or kinesiology while also giving you the ability to begin a career in the fitness industry.
Discover your ideal fitness routine.
Become your own personal trainer by learning all you can about nutrition, conditioning, and the best exercise prescriptions.
Work with athletes at all stages of their careers.
Our Transfer Pathway A.S. in Exercise Science leads to more advanced degrees that provide opportunities to build a career in professional and amateur athletics. The U.S. alone is home to more than 150 major league sports franchises. More than 540,00 student-athletes participate in the NCAA. Just one high school sport—football—fields nearly 16,000 teams.
Focus on your favorite discipline.
Once you’ve earned your A.S. degree, you can settle in and figure out your favorite degree concentration. Examples of where you can go include group fitness leadership, rehabilitation science, wellness coaching, sport psychology, performance enhancement, injury prevention, biomechanics, kinesiology, and more.
Make wellness your priority.
Recreational therapists design exercise and movement-based therapy plans for people who are disabled, injured, or ill. Exercise physiologists develop fitness plans that help patients recover from chronic disease. Exercise science is a wonderful way to be there for people in need.
Hit the workforce in great shape.
Ready to get to work right away? Earning your A.S. degree gives you the skills and knowledge to land an entry-level position as a fitness trainer, coach, scout, personal trainer, fitness consultant, activity specialist, aerobics instructor, camp director, athletic therapist, sports facility manager, and more.
Exercise boosts your mind, attitude, mood, and, of course, your body.
The diversity of careers in exercise science is amazing. Opportunities are found at every turn. For instance, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.”
On top of that, the median wage for exercise physiologists in $58,160 per year, or $27.96 per hour in May 2024. Most exercise physiologists are self-employed or work for hospitals.
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate techniques and form, observe participants, and explain to them corrective measures necessary to improve their skills. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.
Place you would most like to visit: Switzerland
Your national bird if you were your own country: Burrowing owl
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