Fifty schools represented at Fuel Up to Play 60 Reward Summit; Governor Ricketts addressed attendees.
More than 200 elementary and middle school students from throughout Nebraska and western Iowa gathered Tuesday, April 14, for a nutrition and NFL-themed reward summit at Memorial Stadium at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a reward for their efforts to eat healthy foods and stay active.
The student teams earned invitations to the 2015 Fuel Up to Play 60 Reward Summit by actively engaging in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program in their schools. Student leaders encourage their peers to make healthier nutritional choices and commit to at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council, Midwest Dairy Council and the NFL in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture.
At the event, participants, along with Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska dairy farmer Lowell Mueller, also helped celebrate Nebraska's dairy farmers' 100-year commitment to the health and well-being of America's children and adults. Dairy farmers created the National Dairy Council in 1915 to provide nutrition research and education. Over the past century, the organization has continued to take a leading role in community and school health and wellness by creating and supporting important programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60.
The teams that attended the summit represented the following Nebraska and western Iowa schools:
Anderson Grove Elementary School
Beals Elementary School
Bell Field Elementary School
Bloomer Elementary School
Brownell Elementary School
College View Elementary School
Eastridge Elementary School
Ezra Millard Elementary School
Fredstrom Elementary School
Glenwood Elementary
Golden Hills Elementary School
Grace Abbott Elementary School
Hartington Public School
Harvey Oaks Elementary School
Hickory Hill Elementary School
Hillside Elementary School
Holmes Elementary School
Irving Elementary School
John Neihardt Elementary School
Kenwood Elementary School
Kloefkorn Elementary School
La Vista West Elementary School
Lewis & Clark Elementary School
Liberty Elementary School
Lux Middle School
Messiah Lutheran School
Millard North Middle School
Montclair Elementary School
Norman Rockwell Elementary School
Northeast Elementary School
Oakdale Elementary School
Parkview Heights Elementary School
Portal Elementary School
Randolph Elementary School
Robert L Ackerman Elementary School
Roper Elementary School
Rue Elementary School
Rusmey Station Elementary School
Sandy Creek Elementary School
Scott Middle School
Sheridan Elementary School
St. John Nepomucene Catholic School
St. Patrick's School
Sunset Hills Elementary School
Tara Heights Elementary School
Upchurch Elementary School
Walnut Creek Elementary School
Walt Disney Elementary School
West Dodge Station Elementary School
Westbrook Elementary School
"We were happy to reward the students who have been active in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program with this event," said Vice President of Health and Wellness Melissa Young of Midwest Dairy Council. "It was especially fulfilling to have them celebrate their accomplishments alongside dairy farmers at the event, marking 100 years of focusing on nutrition education in our schools and communities. We hope the enthusiasm and excitement generated at the Reward Summit stays with these students as they continue to serve as health and wellness role models for their peers."
Photo at right: Former Husker and current Cincinnati Bengals running back Rex Burkhead addressing attendees on the importance of healthy eating and staying active.Students participated in a variety of nutrition and physical activity sessions including a series of football activities, healthy eating activities and an interactive dairy farming education session. The students also interacted with Kansas City Chiefs mascot KC Wolf, Husker student athletes, Nebraska dairy farmer Ben Rice and Rex Burkhead, former Husker and current running back for the Cinncinatti Bengals, who explained how healthy eating and staying active helped prepare him for a career in the NFL. Each student also took the time to thank the dairy farmers who help make the Fuel Up to Play 60 program possible.
Midwest Dairy Council®, an affiliate of National Dairy Council, is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council is dedicated to dairy nutrition research and education through the investment of 8,000 dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states, and is committed to child health and wellness through our collaborative program, Fuel Up to Play 60. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy. About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council (NDC), the non-profit organization funded by the national dairy checkoff program, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC has taken a leadership role in promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org
About Fuel Up to Play 60 Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which was founded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As a result of the program, last year more than 13 million students made better food choices by selecting nutritious options like low-fat and fat-free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Additionally, nearly 16 million students are getting more physically active during the school day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student contests. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.
4.15.2015