“Battling For Bikes” from Bluffton Elementary school takes home the gold!

“Battling for Bikes” from Bluffton Elementary School earned first place in the Health Action Council Healthy Kids Spring Step It Up Challenge. Team members Jaime Combs, Heidi Steiner and Ryan Dunlap won $1,500 for their school and averaged 822,945 steps.

The Spring 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 up to model healthy habits, show leadership, and win money!

“Modeling healthy habits for kids is one of the most important things we can do as role models,” said Patty Starr, President & CEO of Health Action Council. “What’s great about Step It Up is participants can inspire kids, create healthy habits for themselves, create lasting memories with teammates, and win prizes, all at the same time.”

The key to inspiring students to create healthier habits is to lead by example, which is why the Healthy Kids Step It Up Challenge allows teams to get active and model good lifestyle habits. Healthy Kids teaches students about the importance of physical and mental health, participating in team sport activities, and encouraging students to also take extra steps throughout the day.

This challenge attracted 485 participants from 53 teams, achieving a collective step goal of 136,569,424 total steps, with a daily average of 10,057 steps. Reaching the collective step goal unlocked our $500 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Southwest.

Second place winners were “The Walking Bread” from Boulder Valley School District, consisting of fitness fanatics April Servold, Richard Morin, John Mascarenas, Wasinee Nightingale, Crystal Martinez, Carrie Jentz, Silas Goldstein and Jose Jimenez, winning their school $1,250 and averaging 785,978 total steps.

Third place was awarded to “The Eastland Expedition” from Eastland Career Center, consisting of wellness warriors: Bri Butler, Beau Fealty, Lisa Witt and Jeff Kline. The team won their school $1,000 and averaged 644,584 average total steps.

Fourth place winners were “Spring Fling” from Seymour Junior High School, consisting of Amy Humble, Rachel Buckner, and Stacey Buell, who won $750 for their school and averaged 536,932 total steps.

Finishing in fifth place was “Maumee Panthers” from Maumee City Schools, made up by Mary Studenka, Rachel Hostetler and Angie Wojcik, who won $500 for their school with an average of 426,392 total steps.

“The bar is raised higher and higher every year, with Spring 2025 being one of our biggest challenges,” said Starr.

In addition, Ohio Prizes went to:

• “The History of Math in the Civil War” from Northern Local Schools (Southeast OHSAA District) won $1,000, averaging 630,026. Team members were Troy Wolfe, J.D. Walters, Chris Walters, Adam Huffman, and Katie Huffman.
• “LHS Girls Athletic Association” from Lancaster City Schools (Central OHSAA District) won $1,000, with an average of 569,680 total steps. Team members were Allen Rob, Jim Day, Allison Kinniard, Dianna Galadyk and Teresa Tripp.

The following were mini challenge winners:

• Delia Saenz from team Águilas won a $20 Amazon gift card for participating in our St. Patrick’s Day mini challenge.
• Kim Millard from PCLS Maple/RRPS won a $25 Panera gift card for participating in our Nature Walk & Healthy Snack mini challenge.
• Sarah Farina from PCLS Heritage won a $20 Starbucks gift card for participating in our Happiness on a Plate mini challenge.
• Carrie Jentz from The Walking Bread won a $25 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card for participating in our Spring Into Movement mini challenge.
• Bev Proctor from Charging into Wellness won a picnic backpack set and a dinosaur pin set for participating in our Prehistoric Movement mini challenge.
• B Graves from RH MAD Walkers won a Multifunctional Vegetable Chopper and Spiralizer for participating in our vegetable dish mini challenge.
• Heidi Steiner from Battling for Bikes won a $25 Amazon gift card for participating in our National Walking Day mini challenge.
• Ivie Fitch from PCLS Elm won a $25 Chipotle gift card for participating in our Rainbow Plate mini challenge.
• Elva Tellez from Águilas won a $25 Lowe’s gift card for participating in our Food and Blood Pressure mini challenge.
• John Mascarenas from The Walking Bread won a $20 Amazon gift card for participating in our Reflection mini challenge.

“I really enjoy these challenges,” said April Servold from The Walking Bread. “I have enjoyed walking with my coworkers, and I am hoping that we can continue to walk during our breaks. Having that reset during the day has helped me. I also enjoy walking my dogs with my husband. He is very supportive, and this challenge has helped him become more active!”

Interested in joining the Fall Healthy Kids 2025 Challenge? Dates are October 6 – November 2, 2025. Participants will enjoy learning about the 8 dimensions of wellness in this challenge, while earning prizes and serving as active role models for students. Learn more and register. For questions, contact Noelle Reinhart at [email protected].

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.