“Gingerbread Squad” from Bluffton Elementary School earned first place in the Health Action Council Healthy Kids Fall Step It Up Challenge.  Active crew, Jaime Combs, Heidi Steiner, and Ryan Dunlap won $1,500 for their school, averaging 816,441 steps.

The Fall Healthy Kids Step It Up Challenge, powered by Health Action Council, is a national no-cost, four-week step program that promotes overall health and well-being for schools and the community. School administrators, educators, and parents stepped to model healthy habits, show leadership, and win money!

“The fall activities and sports trivia questions helped teams work together and achieve their goals,” said Patty Starr, President & CEO of Health Action Council. “’Collaborative challenges encourage success by challenging each other and making it fun.”

More importantly, their involvement served as a model for students, demonstrating healthy lifestyle habits. This included engaging in physical education classes, emphasizing the significance of both physical and mental well-being, participating in team sports, and encouraging students to take additional steps throughout the day.

The challenge attracted 364 participants from 46 teams, achieving a collective step goal, and having over 86,585,880 total steps, which unlocked a $500 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Upper Midwest.

Second place winners were, “The Walking Bread” from Boulder Valley School District, with 649,786 average total steps.  The team, consisting of April Servold, Carrie Jentz, Wasinee Nightingale, Crystal Martinez, Jose Jimenez, Silas Goldstein won $$1,125

Third place went to “Watch Us Shine” from Perry Local Schools, with 619,828 average total steps.  The dynamic team consisted of Kayla Rackovan, Jenn Zack, Elias Coss, who won $1,125.

Fourth place healthy warriors were “RH Mad Walkers” from Richmond Heights Local Schools.  The team of Nick Alcantar, Sharon Alcantar, Candice Meintel, Brenda Graves, and Nick Grande averaged 432,626 total steps, winning $750.

Fifth place went to Maumee Panthers from Maumee City Schools.  Team members,  Mary Studenka, Angie Wojcik and Rachel Hostetler averaged 370,915 total steps, earning $500.

“This challenge covers every aspect of health, including fostering a collaborative spirit to achieve a shared goal,” said Starr.

In addition, Ohio Prize went to Central region: LHS Girls Athletic Association from Lancaster City Schools.  The team of Rob Allen, Jim Day, Allison Kinniard, Dianna Galadyk, and Teresa Tripp averaged 542,459 total steps, winning $1,000.

The Ohio Prize – Southeast region was awarded to “The History of Math in the Civil War” from Sheridan High School consisting of Adam Huffman, J.D. Walters, Chris Walters

(Northern Local School District), averaged 511,470 total steps, winning $1,000.

“While the competition brings plenty of fun, the true reward lies in participants becoming healthier versions of themselves and setting a positive example for their children,” said Starr. “We truly appreciate everyone’s enthusiastic involvement.”

Mini Challenge Winners:

• 10/16: Kimi Hille from Richmond Heights Elementary was selected to win an Owala Water Bottle for posting a colorful or unique fall leaf in the challenge chat.
• Nick Alcantar from Richmond Heights was selected to win a $20 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card for answering our basketball sports trivia question.
• 10/22: Ryan Dunlap from Bluffton Elementary School won a $25 Cabela’s gift card for submitting his heart health numbers in the challenge chat.
• 10/24- Rachel Young from Boulder Valley School District answered our football sports trivia question and won a $15 Chipotle gift card.
• 10/28: Crystal Martinez from Boulder Valley School District participated in our fall spooky mini challenge and won an essential oil diffuser.
• 10/30: Maggie Heaton from Seymour Jr. High School answered our football sport trivia question and won a $25 Amazon gift card.
• 11/1: Amy Dasinger from Perry Middle School was selected to win a $20 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card for posting a photo of her getting her steps in for our Halloween mini challenge.
• 11/5 Elias Coss from Perry Local Schools won a $25 Amazon gift card for participating in our basketball sports trivia.
• 11/7: Kellie Costello from Edison Schools was selected to win a $15 Panera gift card in our Stress Awareness Day mini challenge.
• 11/11: Alison Flowers from Lancaster City Schools won a $15 Barnes & Noble gift card for participating in our fall cooking mini challenge.

About Health Action Council

Health Action Council is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization representing mid and large-size employers that enhances human and economic health through thought leadership, innovative services, and collaboration. It provides value to its members by facilitating projects that improve the quality and moderate the cost of healthcare purchased by its members for their employees, dependents, and retirees.

Health Action Council also collaborates with key stakeholders - health plans, physicians, hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry - to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare in the community.