Why Should My School Participate?
•  Studies demonstrate that students who are     physically active and have good nutrition habits     achieve higher test scores.
•  Gold Medal Schools will make lasting healthy lifestyle changes.
•  Gold Medal Schools does not target curriculum changes.
•  Twice as many Utah children are overweight as were 20 years ago.
•  Of children ages five to 15 who are overweight, 61% already have one or more risk factors for heart     disease.
•  Studies show that faculty and staff who are physically fit and practice good nutrition report more     energy, fewer absentee days, and greater job satisfaction.
•   Your school will be awarded cash for each medal level achieved.

Gold Medal Schools (GMS) comes complete with resources and a strong support team. GMS will not require money from your school. In fact, each participating school receives a $100 stipend each year to implement the program. The time commitment involved will depend on which medal level your school is working toward. You determine your school’s pace for achieving each level. Please carefully review the criteria to see what your school can do to reach each level.

Your volunteer school coordinator will work closely with a mentor from a local health department or a student from a University program. The Utah Department of Health Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Program staff (and GMS team), including nutrition and physical activity experts, will also assist and provide direction to your school. Through this partnership and the support of your school staff, we are confident that Gold Medal Schools can be successfully implemented in your school.