I am Here Awards
"It is all about kids, helping them learn about their environment and become advocates for their communities", says Sarah Shipley, VP of Communications at KC Healthy Kids.
Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) January 26, 2017
KC Healthy Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of Greater Kansas City's children, has announced the recipients of six $1,000 first place awards for I Am Here, the nonprofit’s youth photo contest designed to empower students to speak out for healthy communities. The winning classrooms will use their awards to promote student wellness.
The grade level winning classrooms are:
3rd Grade: Whittier Elementary, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, Teacher: Kristina Kidwell
4th Grade: Edgerton Elementary, Gardner Edgerton School District, Teacher: Crysta Baier
5th Grade: Stony Point Elementary, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, Teacher: Ray Lipovac
6th Grade, Dobbs Elementary School, Hickman Mills School District, Teacher: Sharon Ford-Parker
7th Grade, the Barstow School, Teacher: Sarah Holmes
8th Grade, Scuola Vita Nuova Charter, Teacher: Drew Carey (Afternoon Class)
At a ceremony on March 2, the students will give “Shark Tank” style presentations and ask audience members to support their projects. A grand prize winner will be announced and that school will take home a total of $2500 to make a lasting change in their community.
The awards ceremony is at 11:30 a.m. at the Kansas City Convention Center at 301 W 13th Street, Kansas City Mo 64105.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.kchealthykids.org/product/2017-champions-health-youth-summit-sponsorship-tickets/
Through the contest, teachers helped students think critically about how their surroundings – walking trails or broken sidewalks, safe playgrounds or blighted lots, schoolyard gardens or fast food restaurants – impact their health. Hundreds of students were involved in the contest and submitted captioned photos illustrating how their communities help and hinder healthy habits.
This year, the awards ceremony will take place over lunch during KC Healthy Kids’ new youth summit, “Champions for Health.” At this all-day conference, 200 students who participated in the contest will learn to speak out for healthier food in schools, walkable communities, urban farms, gardens and more.
Event sponsorships and single tickets are available online. Proceeds help KC Healthy Kids reshape our region for a brighter future. Funds raised also benefit Greater Kansas City's schools through I Am Here’s cash awards.
Eighteen schools received $100 Honorable Mention Awards. They are:
Bonner Springs School District
Bonner Springs Elementary, 5th Grade, Tammy Dooley
Center School District
Indian Creek Elementary, 4th Grade, Michelle Kruse
Gardner Edgerton School District
Trail Ridge Middle School, 7th Grade, Maryann Hebda,
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
Eugene Ware Elementary, 3rd Grade, Chelsey Skipton
Whittier Elementary, 4th Grade, Sildiane Quinteros
ME Pearson, 5th Grade, Sabrina Rauer
Kansas City Public Schools
Longfellow Elementary, 3rd – 5th Grade, Imani Malaika Mehta
Lee’s Summit School District
Bernard Campbell Middle School, 7th Grade, Stu Reece
Pleasant Lea Middle School, 7th Grade, Joel Staponski
Liberty Public School District
EPiC Elementary, 5th Grade, Deb Caywood
North Kansas City
Meadowbrook Elementary, 3rd and 4th Grades, Sarah Farsace
Shawnee Mission School District
Roesland Elementary 1, 4th Grade, Jennifer Thomson, Stephanie Nielsen
Prairie Elementary, 6th Grade, Laura, Moore
Private & Charter Schools
The Barstow School, 8th Grade, Kelly Finn
The Barstow School, 8th Grade, Jennifer Padberg
Scuola Vita Nuova-Morning, 6th-8th Grade, Drew Carey
Summit Christian Academy-Kates, 5th Grade, Ashlee Smith
I am Here Photo Contest
KC Healthy Kids’ I am Here Photo Contest started in 2013. It has now evolved into a comprehensive program for schools and community groups known as I am Here Youth Advocacy program. This program teaches students how their surroundings impact their health and how to create change through advocacy. I am Here Photo Contest is a fun and easy way for students to get a feel for advocacy and have a chance to win $2,500 for health and wellness projects at their schools.
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About KC Healthy Kids
KC Healthy Kids rallies the people in our communities to improve access to affordable fresh food and safe places to walk and play. When our neighborhoods support healthy habits, we are less likely to suffer from obesity, which is linked to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor mental health. To make a lasting impact, we shape policies that improve our food system and physical surroundings and, ultimately, the places where we live, work, learn, and play.
