Greensboro, NC – June 27, 2011 – At its 1st Annual Be Active Schools Award Ceremony, Be Active North Carolina honored standout schools and school communities for their efforts to change policy, programs and create healthier communities through increased physical activity and environmental changes.  The ceremony, which included teachers and leaders from North Carolina Schools, program participants, PTA, and partnering organizations in health and physical activity, was held Thursday at Greensboro’s Simkins Pavilion.

Be Active Schools, which first launched in six schools throughout North Carolina in 2008, helps schools create a wellness plan and create policy and built environment changes to get kids moving in the classroom, on the playground and in afterschool programs. With more than 20 schools involved in the program now, Be Active NC honored the schools that have changed their school culture so that healthy, active living is the rule, not the exception.

“We are excited to recognize the schools who are making an impact – not only within the school, but in the school community – and share successes stories so that other schools can follow in their footsteps,” said Be Active Youth Program Manager, Evie Houtz. “We want to encourage schools across the state to focus on health and become more active, more often.”

This Year’s Award Winners:

• Administrative Leadership Award: Rockingham County School System for its top-down leadership and promotion of health and physical activity.
• Award for Community Excellence: Rutherfordton Elementary – Rutherfordton, NC for its outstanding efforts to expand wellness opportunities to the entire school community.
• Award for Outstanding Physical Projects:  Rutherfordton Elementary – Rutherfordton, NC for its commitment to creating active spaces through built environment changes and joint use agreements.
• Award for Outstanding Active Policies: Underwood Elementary – Raleigh, NC for its leadership in creating healthy, active policies for employees and students that promote a lasting culture of health and wellness.
• Active Programs Award:  Perry Harrison School – Pittsboro, NC for its dedication to offering programs that promote health and physical activity in many ways throughout the school day.
• School Leadership Award: Thomasville Primary – Thomasville, NC for outstanding efforts by the principal, PE specialist and wellness team to ensure a strong commitment to school health through physical activity.
• Best All Around: Underwood Elementary – Raleigh, NC for excellence in the creation of policies, programs and physical environment changes that promote healthy, physically active students, staff, parents and the community.

About Be Active North Carolina:

Be Active North Carolina, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles across the state. Since 1991, the organization has worked to increase public awareness of the effects of physical activity, build grassroots advocacy and volunteerism, create model statewide programs, and advocate for policies that create opportunities for physical activity. To learn more about Be Active North Carolina please visit www.beactivenc.org.

Related Media: