Students seeing green

Students seeing green
Local high school students are making movement fun for younger students thanks to ProMedica Health System’s Fields of Green scholarship
contest
. The competition, held in January, required teams of teens to create a 20-30 minute health and fitness program for elementary school children. Each program, designed to target childhood obesity, had to include healthy snack options, a detailed budget, a method for evaluating the program’s success and a creative slogan.
Eighteen high school students went home with college scholarships, as ProMedica awarded more than $50,000 from the competition. The first place winners, Alyse Krausz and Rebecca Funke (from Notre Dame Academy) and Mark Brahier (from St. John’s Jesuit High School) each won a $5,000 college scholarship for their entry, “Around the World: Destination Health.” Their schools were also awarded $1,000 for their health and science programs.
The first-place entry, to be implemented into several area elementary schools in the spring, challenges children to “travel” to different countries around the world. While visiting a country, students learn how to count in the native language, perform a fun exercise unique to the children of that country, and enjoy a healthy snack from that culture. Afterwards, each receives a “stamp” in their passport.
“Students in elementary school view gym class in one of three ways – they love it, tolerate it, or would rather be in the classroom,” says Funke. “We designed our program to appeal to all these groups.”
The Fields of Green scholarship competition, designed to target childhood obesity, is part of a larger initiative encompassing a variety of health and nutrition programs. For more information, visit www.ProMedica.org.

Calling all youth
Members of Iota Theta Sigma (Toledo Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority) are once again hosting the Sigma Youth
Symposium on Saturday, March 20 at the Padua Center (1416 Nebraska Ave). This free workshop for teenagers is led by resource professionals in the areas of drugs, teen violence, abuse, low self-esteem, suicide, and teen pregnancy. The Symposium is held simultaneously with others in the nation led by each Alumnae Chapter. The event takes place from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, visit
www.sgrho-toledo.org.

What makes a family?
Sometimes, serious issues require asking our children serious questions. That’s why the Lucas County Children Services Board is sponsoring an essay contest with the theme “What makes a family, and how does it keep me safe?” The contest is open to all children in grades 7 and 8 in Lucas County, and is held in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
Dean Sparks, LCCS Executive Director, explains, “By asking young people to think about this serious issue in our essay contest, we hope to empower them to speak up if they become aware of abuse or neglect among their own family or friends.”
The contest winner and runner-up will have the opportunity to read their essays aloud during LCCS’ annual Child Memorial on April 30 in Downtown Toledo. Entries may be submitted through April 6. For more information, visit www.lucaskids.net.

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