Ginny Gnadt 
Senior Public Relations Specialist
(414) 297-6770, gnadtv@matc.edu

MILWAUKEE (Aug. 2, 2010) – A youth fitness/nutrition program designed and spearheaded by Judy Springer, Milwaukee Area Technical College physical education instructor; and Jeffrey Morzinski, a faculty member in family and community medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin; won a major award at the National Wellness Conference in late July. Called “A Faith Community GYM: Guiding Youth Movement for Sustained, Healthy Futures,” the program taught young people at Milwaukee’s Greater New Birth Church about physical activity, nutrition, health occupations careers, and spirituality as it relates to health. It also included physical activity and training leading to participation a 5K (3.1 mile) run.

Morzinski, as principal investigator and Springer as co-principal investigator, won the 2010 National Wellness Conference Theme Poster Award of Excellence for creating the program that most closely represented the theme of the this year’s wellness conference:“Wellness Solutions that Work NOW:  Best Outcomes Through Innovation, Caring, and Collaboration.”

After receiving a grant from the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Morzinski and Springer began designing their project in summer 2009. The 10-week program was launched in January 2010, with help from Greater New Birth Church’s youth and children’s pastor Will Davis and his wife Ciara; adult church volunteers; the Badgerland Striders running group; and MATC students in Springer’s “Active Approach to Wellness and Fitness” class.

Read more about the program at http://matc.edu/matc_in_action/2010_GYM_Project_Teaches_Youth.html.