Northwestern University Athletics
Fuel Up to Play 60: Wildcats Promote Health and Wellness Among School Kids
3/4/2016 12:39:00 PM | General, 'Cats Give Back
By Jocelyn Vinoya Serranilla, Athletic Communications
Energetic footwork and agility are some of the qualities that made them outstanding student-athletes and they wanted to inspire school children how they stay in shape.
Football defensive lineman Max Chapman, together with fellow Northwestern Wildcats Alisha Gomez-Shah, Mikela Goldstein and Charlotte Sands of the women's fencing team displayed dexterity, strength and stamina as they participated in various activity stations celebrating Fuel Up to Play 60 at River Trails Middle School.
"It's an incredible experience to see how much of an impact we can have on the kids," Goldstein said of her experience. "And it's not only about them having fun. It's also about helping to set them up for a healthy future," the senior fencer said.
For the past five years now, Northwestern student-athletes have been actively involved on a regular basis at Fuel Up to Play 60 assemblies at River Trails Middle School, located about 16 miles northwest of Evanston.
Northwestern Athletics, through its 'Cats Give Back program led by Assistant Director of Athletics Maureen Palchak, and Wildcats student-athletes team up with FUTP 60 and visit RTMS and four other Chicagoland elementary schools on an ongoing basis to actively promote the importance of healthy food choices and exercise to help prevent childhood obesity. In each visit, they encourage participants to stay active and exercise for at least 60 minutes a day as part of the FUTP 60 program. Northwestern is noted as the first college or university in the U.S. to support the FUTP 60 program as an active partner.
On Friday, Feb. 19, Chapman and Wildcats sports performance nutritionist intern, Charlotte Vance, challenged the kids to make the right food choices. "Eat a healthy breakfast. Eat a balanced meal. Yogurt, oatmeal, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy are some of your healthy choices," Vance said.
They addressed the crowd of RTMS sixth, seventh and eighth graders, their teachers, administrators and guests gathered at the school gymnasium to kickoff their fifth-annual Fuel Up to Play 60 event.
Chapman, an imposing figure at six-foot-three, 270 lbs., was obviously a familiar sight at the school, greeting kids with, "Hello again!" RTMS Principal Keir Rogers introduced him in the assembly. "This young man was presented with the traditional No. 1 jersey on Northwestern's football team. This is important," Rogers called out the audience. "I would assume these are the same values and character we try to emulate here at Trails," Rogers said.
Students sought him out for high-fives and handshakes. Lots of smiles greeted him in the hallways.
"I see a lot of familiar faces," Chapman quipped. "Yeah, you there!"
In his address, Chapman quizzed the kids about their commitment to healthy eating habits and exercise. "I'm a defensive lineman. I'm out there to tackle the quarterback. If I want to get around strong offensive linemen, do I want to be strong or weak?" To which the school children enthusiastically replied in unison, "Strong!"
"Fast!" roared the audience in reply to his next question, "Do I want to be slow or fast?"
"Milk is your friend. Juice is your friend. Water is your friend," continued Chapman as he challenged the kids to eat fruits and veggies, to choose food and drinks that will help them stay healthy and hydrated. "Hang out with your friends and play outside."
After the general assembly, the students were divided into several groups and were led to various activity stations where they participated in basketball, dance exercises, calorie counting, yoga, cardio exercises, and pulse-rate monitoring among others. Two therapy dogs were also on hand to show kids how these pets can help reduce stress.
First stop for the 'Cats was the physical fitness activity station where they lit up the floor with several rounds of push-ups, sit-ups, abdominal crunches and jumping jacks. They also cheered on the kids to keep trying. Cheers of, "Go 'Cats!" echoed in the room.
Then there was the dancing station, where the 'Cats showcased some of their dance moves. To the delight of students, teachers and guests at FUTP 60, the quartet jumped in the "ballroom" for some cha-cha-cha slide, chicken dance wing flaps and do-si-do.
In the music room blared, "Light 'Em Up" by Fall Out Boy. The 'Cats quickly found their respective spots in the drumming station, and with wooden drumsticks on each hand, were soon swaying and drumming and beating exercise balls nestled atop white plastic buckets.
"The most fun part of the day was definitely the drumming station. I think that we may have gotten into it, even more so than the kids," gushed Goldstein.
Aside from Chapman and Vance, Illinois Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti also addressed the audience in the gym. Others in attendance were officials from the Regional and National Dairy Council, Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek and Illinois State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Tony Smith.
Fuel Up To Play 60 is an in-school wellness program that promotes among school children healthy choices of nutrient-rich foods such as low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains and to be active for 60 minutes each day. The National Dairy Council and the National Football League (NFL), with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, launched the program to help prevent childhood obesity. Aside from Northwestern University Athletics, local support comes from the Midwest Dairy Council and the Chicago Bears.
Just like Northwestern student-athletes before them, Chapman, Gomez-Shah, Goldstein and Sands continue to inspire school kids to make healthy lifestyle choices to Fuel Up to Play 60. But next time they promote health and wellness at RTMS, they might as well take along their dancing shoes.
Energetic footwork and agility are some of the qualities that made them outstanding student-athletes and they wanted to inspire school children how they stay in shape.
Football defensive lineman Max Chapman, together with fellow Northwestern Wildcats Alisha Gomez-Shah, Mikela Goldstein and Charlotte Sands of the women's fencing team displayed dexterity, strength and stamina as they participated in various activity stations celebrating Fuel Up to Play 60 at River Trails Middle School.
"It's an incredible experience to see how much of an impact we can have on the kids," Goldstein said of her experience. "And it's not only about them having fun. It's also about helping to set them up for a healthy future," the senior fencer said.
For the past five years now, Northwestern student-athletes have been actively involved on a regular basis at Fuel Up to Play 60 assemblies at River Trails Middle School, located about 16 miles northwest of Evanston.
Northwestern Athletics, through its 'Cats Give Back program led by Assistant Director of Athletics Maureen Palchak, and Wildcats student-athletes team up with FUTP 60 and visit RTMS and four other Chicagoland elementary schools on an ongoing basis to actively promote the importance of healthy food choices and exercise to help prevent childhood obesity. In each visit, they encourage participants to stay active and exercise for at least 60 minutes a day as part of the FUTP 60 program. Northwestern is noted as the first college or university in the U.S. to support the FUTP 60 program as an active partner.
On Friday, Feb. 19, Chapman and Wildcats sports performance nutritionist intern, Charlotte Vance, challenged the kids to make the right food choices. "Eat a healthy breakfast. Eat a balanced meal. Yogurt, oatmeal, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy are some of your healthy choices," Vance said.
They addressed the crowd of RTMS sixth, seventh and eighth graders, their teachers, administrators and guests gathered at the school gymnasium to kickoff their fifth-annual Fuel Up to Play 60 event.
Chapman, an imposing figure at six-foot-three, 270 lbs., was obviously a familiar sight at the school, greeting kids with, "Hello again!" RTMS Principal Keir Rogers introduced him in the assembly. "This young man was presented with the traditional No. 1 jersey on Northwestern's football team. This is important," Rogers called out the audience. "I would assume these are the same values and character we try to emulate here at Trails," Rogers said.
Students sought him out for high-fives and handshakes. Lots of smiles greeted him in the hallways.
"I see a lot of familiar faces," Chapman quipped. "Yeah, you there!"
In his address, Chapman quizzed the kids about their commitment to healthy eating habits and exercise. "I'm a defensive lineman. I'm out there to tackle the quarterback. If I want to get around strong offensive linemen, do I want to be strong or weak?" To which the school children enthusiastically replied in unison, "Strong!"
"Fast!" roared the audience in reply to his next question, "Do I want to be slow or fast?"
"Milk is your friend. Juice is your friend. Water is your friend," continued Chapman as he challenged the kids to eat fruits and veggies, to choose food and drinks that will help them stay healthy and hydrated. "Hang out with your friends and play outside."
After the general assembly, the students were divided into several groups and were led to various activity stations where they participated in basketball, dance exercises, calorie counting, yoga, cardio exercises, and pulse-rate monitoring among others. Two therapy dogs were also on hand to show kids how these pets can help reduce stress.
First stop for the 'Cats was the physical fitness activity station where they lit up the floor with several rounds of push-ups, sit-ups, abdominal crunches and jumping jacks. They also cheered on the kids to keep trying. Cheers of, "Go 'Cats!" echoed in the room.
Then there was the dancing station, where the 'Cats showcased some of their dance moves. To the delight of students, teachers and guests at FUTP 60, the quartet jumped in the "ballroom" for some cha-cha-cha slide, chicken dance wing flaps and do-si-do.
In the music room blared, "Light 'Em Up" by Fall Out Boy. The 'Cats quickly found their respective spots in the drumming station, and with wooden drumsticks on each hand, were soon swaying and drumming and beating exercise balls nestled atop white plastic buckets.
"The most fun part of the day was definitely the drumming station. I think that we may have gotten into it, even more so than the kids," gushed Goldstein.
Aside from Chapman and Vance, Illinois Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti also addressed the audience in the gym. Others in attendance were officials from the Regional and National Dairy Council, Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek and Illinois State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Tony Smith.
Fuel Up To Play 60 is an in-school wellness program that promotes among school children healthy choices of nutrient-rich foods such as low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains and to be active for 60 minutes each day. The National Dairy Council and the National Football League (NFL), with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, launched the program to help prevent childhood obesity. Aside from Northwestern University Athletics, local support comes from the Midwest Dairy Council and the Chicago Bears.
Just like Northwestern student-athletes before them, Chapman, Gomez-Shah, Goldstein and Sands continue to inspire school kids to make healthy lifestyle choices to Fuel Up to Play 60. But next time they promote health and wellness at RTMS, they might as well take along their dancing shoes.
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