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GCC's 'Play to Get Fit Challenge' results announced

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Congratulations to Perry Central School for winning Genesee Community College's 2017 Play to Get Fit Challenge! The Health and Physical Education department at Genesee Community College has been rewarding schools and students for their Get Fit Challenge efforts since 2011.

The Play to Get Fit Program was created for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) region to effectively illustrate how many minutes young people spend engaged in physical activity outside of school.

Children record their active minutes on a five-week calendar log specially designed for the "Play to Get Fit" challenge. Walking, biking, running, skating, swimming, playing a sport, playing tag, playing on a swing set and other active, creative games are all eligible for active "credit" minutes. However, video fitness games utilizing Wii or Xbox Kinect are not eligible.

This year, the Perry Central School recorded a whopping 3,021 average active minutes based on the number of students enrolled in third, fourth and fifth grades. Last week, the school was awarded the 2017 winning plaque and each student received a certificate recognizing their participation and effort.

GCC would also like to congratulate the three most active (based on the total number of minutes recorded) participants in the GLOW region this year were:

Grant Grahagan, of Batavia, with 11,876 minutes

Sam Pies, of Batavia, with 9,895 minutes

Madison Needham, of Batavia, with 9,600 minutes

In addition, the program recognizes the three most active students from each participating school district:

Le Roy: 1st -- Isaac Stella; 2nd -- Cameron Riggi; 3rd -- Adam Woodworth

Batavia: 1st -- Grant Grahagan, 2nd -- Sam Pies; 3rd -- Madison Needham

Warsaw: 1st -- Parker Cartwright; 2nd -- Jacob McCormick; 3rd -- Jakob Cornell

York: 1st -- Brody Pangrazio; 2nd -- Connor Boyd; 3rd -- Havyan Wetmore

Pavilion: 1st -- Nicholas Deland; 2nd -- Kiara Gonzalez; 3rd -- Ella Tillotson

Perry: 1st -- Reagan Moroz; 2nd -- Aja Le Harvey; 3rd -- Tysen Deaton

Elba: 1st -- Noah Calarco-Smith; 2nd -- Tristan Snell; 3rd -- Ty Reilly

Oakfield-Alabama: 1st -- David Schichler; 2nd -- Alexis Roggen; 3rd -- Avery Watterson

"Play to Get Fit is a powerful way to expose kids to an active lifestyle and encourage them to have fun while being active," said Becky Dziekan, GCC's director of Health and Physical Education. "The participation from various school districts is proof that the program works! Congratulations to Perry and all of the students who participated."

The Health and Physical Education program at Genesee Community College offers several areas of study. The Sports Management Studies transfer degree programs or associate of science (A.S.) program includes foundations in accounting, marketing, sports facility management and more. The Fitness and Recreation Management applied associate of science degree (A.A.S.) program offers a Personal Trainer concentration and the opportunity to earn the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited credentials through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a certified personal trainer.

In addition, GCC offers both an A.S. and an A.A.S in Physical Education Studies in which students have the opportunity to earn a coaching certificate for NYS non-Certified Physical Education Teachers.

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