HealthPlus recently partnered with Michigan Action for Healthy Kids and Michigan Surgeon General KimberlyDawn Wisdom,MD to provide financial support to selected schools within the HealthPlus service area that participated in the 2008 Healthy School Environmental Recognition Program.

The Program recognizes and applauds schools where outstanding changes are made related to healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free lifestyles. These schools then have the opportunity to share their successes and provide ideas for positive changes to other schools.

HealthPlus awarded eight Professional Development Scholarships valued at $550 each to the following schools that placed in each of the three recognition levels in the HealthPlus service area:

1st Place School of Outstanding Achievement

• Atwood Elementary School
• L'Ance Creuse Public Schools
• Campbell Elementary School
• Cass City Public Schools
• Howell High School
• Howell Public Schools

2nd Place School of Excellence

• Bendle Middle School
• Bendle Public Schools
• Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School
• Bloomfield Hills Lahser School District
• Cass City Middle School
• Cass City Public Schools

3rd Place School of Distinction

• Cass City High School
• Cass City Public Schools
• Floyd High School
• Bullock Creek School District

The Eat Healthy + Play Hard = Smart Students Conference was held at the Grand Traverse Resort on April 22-24, 2008. The conferece provided a great opportunity for schools to come together to promote healthy school environments. 500 attendies, made up of teachers, administrators, dietitians, food service staff, PTA/PTO leaders, school board members, public health reps and community advocates participated in the conference.

Congratulations to the following school nutirition professionals for receiving Regional Champion Awards:

Amy Klinkoski (Grand Rapids School District), Paul Yettaw (Lakeview Public Schools), Shari Bock(Cass City Schools), and Marth Powelson (Alma School District)