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Campus fitness program receives national recognition in first year

Photo of, left to right, President Helmer, Athena Ridgley '18 and Lily Pattyn '19 at the Presidental Proclamation

In its first year at Baldwin Wallace, Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) has already been recognized with national bronze-level status. The program was launched last fall by Dr. Megan Frank and students Athena Ridgley '18, a pre-physical therapy and exercise science major, and Lily Pattyn '19, an exercise science and health coaching and health promotion major.

EIM-OC is a national initiative for promoting exercise and physical activity as a sign of health across college campuses. Campuses are encouraged to provide students with opportunities to develop good fitness habits through special events and by integrating movement as a part of daily campus culture.

New initiative

During the fall 2016 semester, Frank mentioned the EIM-OC initiative and her desire to bring it to life on BW's campus during a class. Ridgley "came up right after class and wanted to be involved," said Frank.

That spring the newly formed BW leadership team registered the campus with EIM-OC and planned how to bring the initiative to BW's campus. The program was launched with a Presidential Proclamation by President Robert Helmer in the fall of 2017.

"We as a university are taking the steps to provide more opportunities to our students so that they can develop proper physical activity habits to last a lifetime," said Ridgley.

National recognition

Based on the level of engagement and activities hosted on campus, schools can be awarded gold, silver or bronze status through the EIM-OC recognition program. After a successful first year, BW has earned bronze status, marking an excellent start for a growing program.

"I'm extremely proud of what our EIM-OC team accomplished in our first year with the initiative on campus," shared Pattyn. "I can't wait to see how the initiative will grow next year."

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