USU Wellness Challenge Culminates with A-Day Awards Ceremony

After 12 weeks of walking, lifting, jumping, running, meditating and eating more fruits and veggies, is Utah State University a healthier campus? The results will be revealed Friday, April 20, during the USU Wellness Challenge Awards Ceremony on the university quad. The ceremony takes place at noon during USU’s annual A-Day celebration, amid live music, dance and other festivities.

“More than 250 students, faculty and staff signed on to participate in our second annual wellness challenge, which we think is phenomenal,” says Jamie McKinlay, program coordinator in USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center and organizer of the competition. “At the ceremony, we’ll find out just how much effort Aggies put into improving their health and well-being.”

 

Prizes will be awarded to participants in the individual and team categories who achieved the most progress toward wellness goals. The first place individual participant and members of the first place team will each receive a $50 gift card to Al’s Sporting Goods. Second place finishers will receive a one-month pass to the Sports Academy. Each third place winner receives a $20 gift card to Hamilton’s Restaurant.

 

The wellness challenge is part of USU’s participation in 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.

 

The challenge fuels Utah State’s efforts to advance to a gold level Healthy Campus award during 2007. USU received a silver level award in 2006 and a bronze level award in 2005.

 

Connie Kitchens, program coordinator for ‘A Healthier You,’ praised USU’s efforts in initiating the wellness challenge. “I think USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center is very innovative in what it chose to do and had a fabulous result in so many people signing up,” she said.

 

USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center provides a variety of educational and awareness programs in alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse, healthy relationships, sexual assault and rape prevention, nutrition, peer pressure, safe recreational practices and more. Friday’s A-Day activities include a wellness fair.

 

 

Contact: Jamie McKinlay [jjmckinlay@cc.usu.edu], 435-797-1010