Moorestown Friends School Senior Wins Scholarship in Healthy Living Competition

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown Friends School senior Jahdiel Brown won $2,000 and a $5,000 scholarship to the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia at the Healthy Lifestyles Business Competition, hosted by the university on Feb. 27, the school announced on Tuesday.

Brown won for her “Chop To It!” social media marketing campaign.

“My idea with my campaign ‘Chop To It!’ was to focus on the fun aspect of cooking to motivate people to cook more in their kitchens, rather than eating out,” Brown said. “When I was a kid, the most fun part of cooking for me was chopping and dicing. I felt like a professional chef prepping my food! So my food rule throughout my social media campaign was if it doesn’t require chopping, slicing, or dicing, you shouldn’t eat it because it probably doesn’t have healthy, whole ingredients.”

Brown was exposed to the idea of general food rules through Moorestown Friends School Science Department Chair Barb Kreider’s Nutrition course.

She then created ‘Chop To It!’ social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and, her chief social media channel, Pinterest.

Among the tips posted on the ‘Chop To It!’ Facebook page:

· If you just need to “add water,” “toss it in the microwave,” or “pull up to the first window,” you shouldn’t be eating it...you should be chopping!

· Over the past 35 years, obesity rates have more than doubled. Join us in our fight against obesity! #choptoit

· Keep your brain sharp and your knives sharper! Dull blades cause more accidents because they are harder to work with and require more pressure. Sharp knives do not slip as easily and cut easier. #choptoitsafely

· Exciting News! Chop To It! is introducing our Monthly Photo Giveaway! We want you to send us videos or pictures of your knife skills while also promoting knife safety awareness for a chance to win a professional culinary knife set and a $500 Whole Foods gift card. Just tag Chop To It! on Facebook or use the hashtag ‪#‎Choptoitsafely on Instagram. May the best chef win!

On Pinterest, Brown assembled boards about knife safety, knife skills, “Chop To It!” recipes, affordable recipes, and quick and easy recipes. These visual graphics promoted the message of her campaign effectively, and provided her audience with many educational resources.

“Being at the competition was nerve wracking, but it was fun to present and encourage people to heave a healthier lifestyle,” Brown said. “I enjoyed presenting my final campaign to the judges and it was great that they liked it too! I didn’t know I could do marketing work, but I learned a lot along the way. I was out of my comfort zone with this project, but I’m so glad I did it.”

Brown has been active in the Moorestown Friends School’s art department. She will study nursing at whatever university she attends next year, and plans to minor in art.

Sponsored by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business program at Mayes College of Healthcare Business and Policy, the competition encouraged entrants to design a campaign to persuade their audience to live a healthy lifestyle.

The attached image of Jahdiel Brown was provided by Moorestown Friends School