Pictured l- r at award presentaion are A+ Afterschool ambassador Mary Stover, Palmetto Health Project Coordinator Ava Dean, director of the Richland One Office of Extended Day Programs Dr. Traci Young Cooper, Richland One intern Lucinda Singletary, coordinator of the Richland One Office of Extended Day Programs Coretta McGill, and Richland One board chair and Palmetto Health senior vice president Vince Ford. Richland One's Office of Extended- Day Programs, which provides after- school and other services, has been named Palmetto Health's Champion of Obesity Prevention. Included with that honor is a check for $250 that will be used to support or improve the program.

Richland One was recognized because of its continuing efforts to address the medical/nutritional health of students in grades K- 12, thereby helping them to perform better academically.

The district's Office of Extended- Day Programs approached the youth obesity epidemic in a number of ways including providing nutritious after- school snacks and an array of physical activities such as Tae kwon do, aerobics and physical training for the students in its care.

"Richland One continues to be a leader in student health issues," said Dr. Traci Cooper, director of the district's extended- day programs." Since South Carolina's obesity and overweight rates are among the highest in the nation, our hope is that efforts to protect students' health at school will encourage them to be healthy eaters and physically active for the rest of their lives."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, South Carolinians rank fourth in the nation for being overweight or obese. Obesity can cause chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

For more information contact the Richland One Office of Communications at 231-7504 or 231-7510.