Posted: Saturday, June 16, 2012 2:00 pm | Updated: 2:11 pm, Fri Jun 15, 2012.

A whos who of Minnesota celebrities, including a Viking and a princess, converged on the gym at Harriet Bishop Elementary School in Savage recently. Those famous faces werent the main attraction, though. The hubbub wasnt for the royalty or the Norseman, but rather for two modest women committed to healthy living.

Annalisa Hultberg, Smart Choices health and wellness coordinator for the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, and Jenny Hinman, Harriet Bishops administrative assistant and school wellness coordinator, were named Minnesotas Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisors of the Year.

Fuel Up to Play 60, a joint nutrition and fitness partnership between the National and Midwest dairy councils, the National Football League and the United States Department of Agriculture, furnished the morning assembly. The event featured a visit from Minnesota Vikings mascot Viktor the Viking, former Vikings linebacker Matt Blair and current Princess Kay of the Milky Way Mary Zahurones.

I have to thank Annalisa, said Hinman of the honor. She did most of the paperwork.

Hultberg secured two $4,000 Fuel Up to Play 60 grants for nutrition and physical activity in District 191. Those grants helped support everything from running clubs at Hidden Valley, William Byrne and Rahn elementary schools to cafeteria-based initiatives designed to help students make better dietary choices. Students have been doing taste testing yogurt parfaits, low-fat dairy, whole grains and veggies in their lunchrooms.

Ive seen a lot more interest in nutrition from the students, Hinman said. Its kind of cool.

And things have been kicked up a notch at Harriet Bishop.

Students host healthy cooking segments on the schools daily news broadcast, H.B. Buzz, and the buildings dance troupe just closed out its third season.Hultberg gave the credit to her fellow honoree when it came to divulging why Harriet Bishops success stood out.

I think Jenny has been huge in motivating staff, she said. Shes pushed students to take the lead.

See the article here:
Harriet Bishop assembly honors commitment to health and fitness