Calling All Aggies for USU's 2007 Wellness Challenge

Eat, drink and be merry during this festive season but after you polish off the last of the holiday goodies, consider a New Year’s makeover. If you’re adding “getting in better shape” to your list of resolutions, make plans to sign up for the Utah State University Student Wellness Center’s 2007 Wellness Challenge. Here’s your chance to improve your health and well-being, while enjoying camaraderie and friendly competition.

This is the second year Utah State has offered the challenge, which sports a new name to reflect its updated, more holistic format. More than 300 students, faculty and staff participated as members of six-person teams in last year’s Physical Activity Challenge, which helped the university garner a silver-level Healthy Campus Legacy Award from the Utah Department of Health this past fall.

 

The 2007 Wellness Challenge kicks off Monday, Jan. 22, concludes Friday, April 13, and is celebrated a week later with an awards ceremony and health fair during the university’s annual A-Day celebration on the Quad Friday, April 20.

 

“We had an enthusiastic response to last year’s challenge, and we want to get even more people involved in 2007,” says Jamie McKinlay, SWC program coordinator. “It doesn’t matter what your current fitness level is. We have something for everyone.”

 

New to the 2007 challenge are wellness goals aimed at improving participants’ emotional well-being as well as physical fitness. In addition to earning points for weekly hours of physical activity and daily consumption of five fruit and vegetable servings, challengers can earn points for pursuing activities that reduce stress, improve interpersonal communication skills and strengthen relationships.

 

“We’ll provide participants with a list of suggested activities that improve both mind and body,” says McKinlay.

 

Also, in contrast to last year’s challenge, Aggies can choose to participate in the 2007 challenge as individuals or as part of a team. Teams can consist of up to five members. For the April awards ceremony, teams will compete against other teams and individuals against other individuals.

 

During the 12-week challenge, the Student Wellness Center will offer additional opportunities to earn points with special weeks targeted at specific health issues or promoting certain fitness activities, such as “No Junk Food Week” and “Skip the Elevator/Take the Stairs Week.”

 

McKinlay reminds the campus community that the university offers a number of fitness opportunities at low or no cost. In addition to fitness facilities in the HPER building and the Nelson Fieldhouse, campus recreation offices offer intramural sports, aerobics classes and outdoor recreational outings. More information is available on the USU Campus Recreation Web site.

 

USU offers the wellness challenge as part of the statewide “A Healthier You” Legacy Awards program, funded by the Utah Department of Health, Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and community partners. Initiated in conjunction with the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the program recognizes efforts by college campuses, communities, public schools and the private sector in increasing opportunities for health-enhancing activities.

 

Registration deadline for the challenge is Friday, Jan. 19. Registration forms, along with information about challenge rules and requirements, can be downloaded from the Student Wellness Center’s Web site or contact McKinlay at 435-797-1010. Those participating in a team should provide team name and team captain’s name, along with the department, campus unit, academic major or other campus group the team represents.

 

USU Campus Recreation

USU Outdoor Recreation

 

Contact: Jamie McKinlay, 435-797-1010.  

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-1429.