Student Named Ambassador For Wellness Program

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Kids hear all the time about how they should eat better and stay active, but one Sioux Falls fourth grader lives that way every day. Now, she's been chosen as a national representative for the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.

Robert Frost fourth grader Katie Osmundson has just been named a national ambassador for Fuel Up to Play 60, a program that combats childhood obesity and encourages kids to take control of their own health.

"They send you with a bag and a video camera.  Video what your school does and send it into the website," Osmundson said.

You may have seen the commercials for the program, sponsored by the NFL and the National Dairy Council. Osmundson is one of nine national ambassadors chosen for next year.

"I'm proud I get to do it and it's fun to help out and see what you get to do," Osmundson said.

Fitness is a natural for Osmundson; she and her mother started the Fuel Up to Play 60 program at Robert Frost just this year. They received a $1,900 grant and used it to implement several activities to promote health and wellness.

"Had a Walk-It program, where each student gets a pedometer and the goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day," Osmundson said. "We passed out fruit they haven't eaten very much and we did plums this time, and people liked them. Now I see people bring them in their lunches."

Osmundson will carry these ideas over to next year and is busy brainstorming more. She says other students are excited to see what they'll come up with.

"Makes me feel good because I know the work me and my mom put in is actually showing the results we want," Osmundson said.

Robert Frost has a student wellness council that helps implement the activities, and they're traveling to Omaha Tuesday to learn more about the campaign.