Healthiest Elementary School Principal to be Crowned

WHAT:

Who is the healthiest elementary school principal in the Salt Lake Valley? The winner will be crowned on Wednesday. 

Will it be Newman Elementary Principal John Erlacher? Heather Nicholas from Horizon Elementary? St. Vincent de Paul’s Mark Longe? Herriman Elementary’s Becky Gerber? Butler Elementary’s Christy Waddell, Hayden Peak Elementary Principal Diena Riddle, Karen Chatterton from Cottonwood Elementary, Lynne Rada from Bennion Elementary, Nikki Ward from St. John the Baptist Elementary, Ruth Peters from Peruvian Park Elementary, Sally Sansom from East Midvale Elementary, Brent Shaw from Canyon View Elementary or Tracy Rose from Twin Peaks Elementary? 

For the past 100 days, these 13 elementary school principals from throughout the Salt Lake Valley have been walking, biking, working out, eating fruits and vegetables, getting their students excited about fitness and tracking their progress as they have competed in the Intermountain Heart Institute’s 2013 My Heart Challenge contest to determine which Salt Lake Valley city has the healthiest elementary school principal.

Throughout the competition, the principals found numerous opportunities to engage their students and community in being heart healthy. Some examples include a community health fair hosted at St Vincent de Paul Schools, a community vegetable garden at Herriman Elementary, a Dr. Seuss wacky walk-a-thon at East Midvale Elementary, and principals who walk with their students at recess every day. 

The winner of the contest will be crowned at a celebration ceremony Wednesday (5/20) at noon at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. News media are invited.

The overall winner (total points) will receive a $1,000 check. The most improved participant (based on medical data) will also receive a $1,000 check towards improving the health of residents in their community. All participants will be honored for their progress and effort to enhance their heart health. 

“We are proud of all of the participants and the progress they have made in improving their personal heart health,” said Don Lappe, MD, chief of cardiology at the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center. “They have also been instrumental in teaching their students about the importance of fitness and nutrition, and have served as wonderful role models.”

The My Heart Challenge contest is sponsored by the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center, which provided the participants with coaching by a specialized dietitian, an exercise specialist and a series of tests at the beginning and end of the challenge.

WHEN:

Noon, Wednesday, May 22, 2012

WHERE:

Intermountain Medical Center
Doty Education Center Auditorium – Building #6 (west side of campus)
5300 South State Street, Murray

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