Technology Center Joins Local Healthy Lifestyle Efforts

The Tennessee Technology Center at Paris’ SkillsUSA Chapter took a recent challenge by City and County Mayors very seriously. The school’s chapter organized a Biggest Loser Contest after learning about the work of the Henry County Health Council and County Mayor Brent Greer’s initiative to bring more attention to heart disease during the month of February.

In proclaiming February as Henry County Heart Month, Greer brought to light the fact that Henry County’s heart disease death rate is the fifth highest in the state and heart disease is the number one killer in our county.

This really struck home with our student body and we decided we wanted to do something proactive about it, explained Faculty Advisor Fran Swain.

“Most of our students are parents as well. Educating parents on how to live a healthier lifestyle will affect the lives of their children.”

The Biggest Loser Contest, which is a fundraiser for the student-lead organization, was just the initial step in promoting health and wellness on campus. The students, along with the help of Mrs. Swain, have organized a series of Focus on Fitness programs to be presented each Wednesday through April 15^th.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend these sessions, said SkillsUSA president, Jason Corbitt of Paris, adding that they will be held in the Center’s All-Purpose Room beginning at 8:15 a.m. and will last approximately 30 minutes.

The competition kicked off February 16 with a weigh-in which included students competing with each other and faculty/staff competing with each other.  Ten members of the Center’s faculty and staff signed up for the challenge and 22 students joined them. The final weigh-in will be on April 15^th and prizes have been donated by the Paris Civic Center, Zumba instructor Jessica Prince and Freedom Fitness as incentives for the interim and final winners.

 During the kick-off, Tony Lawrence, Director of the Paris Civic Center, challenged the group to fight obesity and become more aware of heart health. He also presented information about the various programs and activities available at the Paris Civic Center.

Week Two brought Grant Guinn, owner of Freedom Fitness in Paris. On February 23, he presented information about how exercise boosts brain power and pointed out that as little as 15 minutes of exercise a day can increase brain cells.

The remaining lineup of scheduled speakers include: Loral Burke, an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, March 3 at 8:15 a.m.; Jessica Prince, Zumba instructor, March 16; Kim Dempsey, a licensed nutritionist from Henry County Medical Center, March 23; Julia Shimkus, of Shearly Fit, March 30.

April’s line-up will include mental health and emotional eating issues on April 6 and

 Terri Lynn Atkins, Registered Dental Hygienist on the importance of dental health on overall wellness, April 13.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together in ensure America has a skilled workforce. More than 300,000 student and instructors join SkillsUSA annually,organized into more than 17,000 sections and 54 state and territorial associations.  SkillsUSA has served more than 9.9 million members. It’s mission is to help its members become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. It emphasizes total quality at work—high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and pride in the dignity of work. SkillsUSA also promotes understanding of the free-enterprise system and involvement in community service.

Each year the Technology Center at Paris sends students to compete in the state competition in skilled areas such at Motorcycle/ ATV Repair, Cosmetology, Patient Care. The local chapter is responsible for raising funds to send these students to competition.

For more information about these sessions, call Mrs. Swain or Jan Latimer at 644-7365.