Midwestern Students Selected as Fuel Up to Play 60 State Ambassadors to Help Mobilize Healthy Changes in Schools across the Country « Back

The NFL and Midwest Dairy Council Select Local Students Out of Hundreds

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (July 16, 2012) – Ten Midwestern students have been chosen to be part of an elite group who will serve as Fuel Up to Play 60 student ambassadors for the 2012-2013 school year. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program created in partnership with Midwest Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with USDA, that encourages students to eat healthy, be active and make positive, healthy changes in their schools and communities.

State Representatives, along with four National Student Ambassadors, lead the Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Program, which engages youth directly as grassroots leaders that work to increase access to healthy foods and 60 minutes of physical activity at school. The program also encourages and recognizes schools and students with tangible rewards and resources such as a trip to the Super Bowl, official NFL gear and NFL player appearances.

Alejandro Melchor Guadarrama of Waukegan, Ill. has been named a Fuel Up to Play 60 National Student Ambassador for the 2012-2013 school year. Midwestern students representing their states include:

• Courtney Downing, Des Moines, Iowa
• Angelique Livingston, Willowbrook, Ill.
• Emma Hickey, Wichita, Kan.
• Kylie Kasprick, Osseo, Minn.
• Cassidy Ley, Madison, Mo.
• Thomas Benes, Weston, Neb.
• Alex O'Connell, West Fargo, N.D.
• Rhett Conkling, Locust Grove, Okla.
• Kendra Strande, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Selected from a nationwide search that drew hundreds of applicants, these State and National Representatives attended a Student Ambassador Summit in Washington, D.C. last week. The Summit provided students the opportunity to meet their peers and help sculpt the program, which relies on the input and participation of students to grow and evolve. Summit attendees engaged in interactive educational leadership sessions that included special guest appearances by Matt Cassel, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, LaVar Arrington, NFL Alumni Player, and Byron Sackett, Director of Child Nutrition with Lincoln County Schools in Lincolnton, N.C.

“We could not be more impressed by this group of young people who have showed great dedication to Fuel Up to Play 60, and to the health and wellness of their peers,” said Molly Pelzer, RD, LD, senior vice president of Midwest Dairy Council. “Across the Midwest, they’ve been making changes that help ensure a healthier future for themselves, their schools and their communities, and we can’t wait to see all the great things they will accomplish with their new roles.”

For more information, about Fuel Up to Play 60 and the Student Ambassador Program visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com or find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FuelUpToPlay60.

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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 more than 9,500 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 Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from 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.

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 challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council® (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and communications arm of Dairy Management Inc™. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a person’s lifespan. For more information, visit NationalDairyCouncil.org.

About NFL PLAY 60
Designed to help tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations like the National Dairy Council. NFLPLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit NFLRush.com. © 2012 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.