Maya Lin School Wins Bay Area-Wide NFL Play 60 Challenge

ALAMEDA, CA: As a reward for winning the Super Bowl 50 edition of the Bay Area-wide NFL Play 60 Challenge, 5th graders at Maya Lin School had the chance to ask players with the Oakland Raiders about their careers Tuesday morning, as well as participate in a modified football work out with them.

During the Play 60 Challenge, students commit to getting 60 minutes of exercise a day (both in the classroom and at home) for four weeks. Teachers lead exercise sessions in class and also log the total minutes students complete. “We want students to adopt active lifestyles,” explained Megan Mendoza, NFL’s community relations coordinator. “We want them to have fun and stay healthy.”

The challenge is part of the league’s larger NFL Play 60 program, which is designed to tackle childhood obesity by getting kids active through in-school, after-school, and team-based programs. The NFL co-developed the program with the American Heart Association.

More than 12,000 students across the wider Bay Area participated in this year’s Super Bowl 50 edition of the challenge. But the 5th graders in Maya Lin teacher Elizabeth Young’s class racked up more minutes exercising (more than 50,000 in total) than any other group. “This is really incredible,” Maya Lin Principal Judy Goodwin said during the assembly. Turning to Raiders players Andre Holmes, Rodney Hudson, and Rod Streater, she added, “You guys might have some competition.”

Teacher Elizabeth Young told the students: “I was really impressed by how you all pushed yourselves at home and school. It’s important to set high goals. And you pushed yourselves to reach those goals!” Young was AUSD Teacher of the Year in 2011.

“A Lot of Hard Work”

During the assembly, several students asked questions of the players. “How did you balance schoolwork and sports?” one girl asked center Rodney Hudson. “It was a lot of hard work,” he said. “I wrote things down and scheduled myself.”

Asked another student, “What do you have to do to get in the NFL?” Wide receiver Andre Holmes answered, “You have to work hard. You have to believe you have the ability. You need good grades in high school, and you have to continue with that in college – all while working hard to be the best player you can be.”

During the assembly, the NFL also presented Goodwin with a $2500 check to use for health and fitness programs at her school. The Raiders players, representatives from the NFL, and Raider Rusher (the Raiders’ dancing helmet) then conducted a clinic for the students, during which they practiced jump roping, throwing a football, weaving around inflated dummies, crawling through a tunnel, and trying fancy footwork with an agility ladder.

“10 Minutes Here and There”

“This is awesome!” exulted 5th grader Sorel Richardson. Other students interviewed during the clinic also expressed enthusiasm. “I tried really hard to get a lot of exercise time in. In fact, I was mad when I was done because there wasn’t enough space on the form to list it all!” said Mianna Pena. Noted Tina Nguyen, “I jogged in place to get my exercise in. And I jump-roped.” Pablo Vessali said he was so committed to the program he did drills and running in addition to his baseball practices five days a week. “We pushed each other,” he said, gesturing to Sorel. “It was great!”

Wide receiver Streater said he wanted Alameda youth to know that it’s important to exercise 60 minutes per day. “Put down the video games,” he said. “Do something active! You don’t have to do it all at once – you can do it in ten minute periods here and there.”

“Who knew that Super Bowl 50 would inspire AUSD students this way?” said AUSD Superintendent Sean McPhetridge. “I am thankful to Liza Young and her students for challenging themselves to compete and achieve at this level. I am also grateful that the NFL and Raiders players have acknowledged these students’ hard work and have rewarded them in this way.”

You can see a fun video of the event here.

Announcement via Alameda Unified School District

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOM GONZALES/RAIDERS.COM