Cranford Students Put Their Fitness Knowledge to the Test

Cranford, NJ -- Cranford students will put their brainpower to the test as they compete for a $1,000 prize for their school.

The students will compete in a Jeopardy-style quiz competition called the seventh annual UnitedHealthcare Health Bee which is designed to get middle school students excited about health, fitness and nutrition.

UnitedHealthcare will award the winning team $1,000 for their school to support programs that combat childhood obesity, and the second place team will get $500. Additionally $250 will be awarded to the team with the most school spirit.

Students from the following schools will be competing:

• Deerfield School – Mountainside
• Edison Intermediate School – Westfield
• Hillside Avenue School – Cranford
• Lincoln School – Garwood
• Orange Avenue School – Cranford
• Roosevelt Intermediate School – Westfield
• St. Michael’s School - Cranford

The competition will take place on Tuesday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at the Westfield Area YMCA, 422 East Broad Street in Westfield.

“Studies have shown that 7th grade is a critical time in pre-teens’ development during which they begin to form health habits and attitudes about self esteem and body image that will last into adulthood,” according to the press release.

UnitedHealthcare has teamed up with the Westfield Area YMCA to educate the students throughout the year about nutrition and fitness and also gave each student a complimentary YMCA membership.

The program is capped off with the competition to test the students’ knowledge.

Along with parents, teachers, administrators and seventh-grade students from the schools, Paul Marden, CEO of UnitedHealthcare New York and New Jersey; Mark Elsasser, CEO of Westfield Area Y; Garwood Mayor Charles Lombardo and Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli will be in attendance.