FAIRBORN, Ohio (WKEF) — Ohio Lt Governor Jim Tressel visited Fairborn Intermediate School on Wednesday, challenging students to form healthy habits as part of the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.
As part of Governor Mike Dewine’s efforts to make Ohioans healthier and live up to their full potential, Dewine and Tressel are launching a new pilot program for students grades 4-8 across Ohio—focusing on creating healthy habits, fitness, nutrition, and sleep.
“The consensus was that fourth to eighth grade level really impressionable, transformational time, and so get them used to feeling good and wanting to feel good, and get them used to eating well and getting their rest. It’ll make a difference,” said Tressel.
The challenge will allow students to learn how to build a workout and lifestyle routine supporting their well-being for years to come.
“We want it to be tailored to the individual. We want everyone to believe that it’s good for them and that it fits them,” Tressel said.
Former Ohio State University and NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is acting as the challenge captain and is traveling across the state with Tressel to visit schools and inspire students.
Around 160,000 workbooks will be given out to students as they progress through three levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—selecting from a menu of activities, using their challenge workbook, in each of the core areas.
The challenge is specifically designed for students to complete individually, outside of the classroom. Flexibility is built in for schools that wish to play a more active role in the challenge during the school day. Any public, private, or charter school student in Ohio will have the option to participate if their school opted in.
“Now the key is going to be, will they keep that focus to give this a chance so they feel better, and once they feel better, I think they’ll do it the rest of their lives,” Tressel said.Public,
Public, private, or charter school student in Ohio will have the option to participate if their school opted in.
Fairborn Intermediate School administrators hope the challenge will inspire students to prioritize their physical health.
“I think it’s incredible that it’s being offered, and I think just having the lieutenant governor and the NFL players there gives them role models to look up to, and they’ll take their physical health more seriously to see that it’s important to adults that they look up to,” said Fairborn Intermediate Principal Tammy Gendreau.
More than 600 schools have opted for the challenge that runs for 90 days starting September 8.