LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, recently announced that Lower Lake Elementary is one of six school finalists in the North Coast Region and 116 schools state-wide that have been named finalists in the 2011 Governor’s Challenge Competition.

The Governor’s Challenge Competition is a contest that promotes increased physical activity and better nutrition among California’s children.

The six North Coast Region school finalists are: Lower Lake Elementary in Lower Lake; Fort Bragg Middle in Fort Bragg; Harvest Middle in Napa; Northwest Prep at Piner-Olivet in Santa Rosa; Redway Elementary in Redway; and South Fork Junior-Senior High in Miranda

The Governor’s Challenge is to be active 30 to 60 minutes a day, at least three days a week for a month.

All 731 students at Tamarack successfully completed at least one challenge this year and together they recorded 85,378 Active Days. Earlier this year Lower Lake Elementary was named a Front Runner Award winner and received a $1,000 award.

 

“Congratulations to all the Lower Lake Elementary students, parents and teachers who have been stepping up to make fitness a priority all year,” said Steinfeld. “And a special congratulations to Lower Lake Principal and Governor’s Challenge Coordinator Tracy Skeen – a great educator who has been relaying the message that being active not only helps you get healthier, it helps your mind work better and boosts your confidence and self-esteem too!”

 

The 116 school finalists named today are now under consideration for prizes including 6 brand new fitness centers valued at $100,000 each and 11 Regional Awards of $6,000 each, which will be used to buy new physical activity equipment and other school supplies.

Award winning schools will be announced at a special ceremony at the Capitol in September.

 

Statewide more than 1.4 million participants recorded more than 8 million days of physical activity through the Governor’s Challenge in 2011.

Complete physical activity records of participating schools in the Governor’s Challenge can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org.

“I want to emphasize that during these times when budgets are so tight, we’ve been able to promote the Governor’s Challenge without adding any burden to California taxpayers,” said Steinfeld. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, - Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Coca-Cola Company, CVS/pharmacy, General Mills, and Kaiser Permanente - a record 1.4 million California children, parents and teachers signed up to take the Governor’s Challenge this year.”

 

Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is the title sponsor of the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards that fund the Competition’s three grand prize fitness centers. The Coca-Cola Company is the sponsor of an additional three Live Positively Fitness Center awards that will be donated to schools this year. CVS/pharmacy sponsors the Governor’s Challenge Competition Front Runner Awards and the $6,000 Regional Awards. General Mills’ sponsorship funds the Certificates of Completion which students completing the Governor’s Challenge receive.

Partners of the Governor’s Council include Tuff Stuff Fitness Equipment, which helps equip the fitness centers the Council awards, 24 Hour Fitness which provides free passes to high school students taking the Governor’s Challenge, and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area which provides free lift tickets to k-12 students taking the Governor’s Challenge.

For more information about the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, visit www.CalGovCouncil.org.