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CHESAPEAKE, Va. (January
24, 2008) --- Deep Creek Elementary School
in Chesapeake won a share of a $10,000 grant that helps
teachers and physical education specialists in Virginia
schools promote greater physical fitness and healthier
habits among students.
Chad Triolet, physical education specialist at Deep Creek Elementary
School, said GeoFitness, Inc., awarded the $10,000 grant to
three Virginia elementary schools. Geofitness, based in Orlando, Fla., designs products and
fitness programs for children.
The grant funds will help pay for new fitness equipment.
“Our school was so excited to receive the grant,” said Triolet. “We
are eager to learn the many uses of the GeoFitness equipment. We look forward
to using the equipment to motivate movement, develop essential fitness components,
and reinforce important academic concepts through movement,” he said.
GeoFitness technology, developed by Dr. Debby Mitchell, associate
professor at the University of Central Florida, combines fitness
training with learning concepts that are particularly effective
with elementary students.
“Younger children are active by nature, and they learn by doing,” said
Dr. Mitchell. “Their natural inclination is to rebel against rigid, sedentary
exercises---sitting still---and their enthusiasm for active, energetic learning
experiences is profound,” she said.
“We get children up jumping, hopping, marching and balancing on colorful
mats that incorporate numbers, shapes, colors, letters and directions,” Dr.
Mitchell explained. “We add the influence of music, a universal stimulus,
and when children are moving the motivation for learning is powerful,” she
added.
Dr. Mitchell created the GeoFitness grants program two years
ago. So far, five grants totaling $50,000 have been awarded
in Virginia, Washington, Kansas, Arizona and Georgia.
“The GeoFitness grant is our way as a for-profit organization to give back
to communities across the country. We want to empower health and physical education
teachers with necessary staff development and equipment to make a difference,” she
said.
GeoFitness is a client of the UCF Technology Incubator.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Debby Mitchell, President GeoFitness, Inc. 407.657.5917 mitchellgeofitness@yahoo.com
Carol
Ann Dykes, Chief Operating Officer, UCF Technology Incubator,
407-882-0202
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142
About the UCF Technology Incubator
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Technology Incubator has helped
more than 90 emerging technology companies create over $200
million in annual revenue and more than 800 new jobs with an
average salary of $59,000. The UCF Technology Incubator was
named 2004 Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubation
Association. Headquartered in the Central Florida Research Park
near the University, the Incubator is a collaboration in economic
development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando,
and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information,
visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu. |
