WEST ORANGE, NJ – Seventh and eighth grade students at Liberty Middle School had the exciting opportunity to meet Jonatthon Harrison on Feb. 13 when the Jets Center came to represent the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program and recognize district participation.
The American Dairy Association and NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program was created to encourage healthy food choices and promote 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The program provides schools with a playbook of physical fitness and nutrition strategies to help tackle growing rates of childhood obesity. Schools participate in challenges to earn points making them eligible for prizes and grant money.
Harrison graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Criminal Justice and Anthropology in 2013. He played for the Indianapolis Colts until signing with the Jets in March, 2017.
The affable 6’4 player donned an apron to make smoothies with Marissa Thorsen, a registered dietician with Sodexo (the “Fuel Up” portion of the morning) and played games with students for NFL prizes that included nutritional quizzes, push-ups, and hula hooping.
Harrison and the students then headed to the gym where he assisted LMS gym teachers as students performed modified combine exercises (the “Play 60 minutes” portion.)
The West Orange School District has worked with the NFL Fuel Up to Play 60 program since 2015 and has earned more than $32,000 in grant money to provide more nutritional food choices to students and to purchase athletic equipment for district schools. West Orange has become a successful participant in the program and gained national attention for their participation.
Representatives from the American Dairy Association supported the morning’s effort with plenty of milk and nutritional advice while district organizers Kevin Alvine (Supervisor of PE and Health) and Josh Kreutz (Sodexo Food Services Director) worked with the Liberty Staff and visitors to make the morning fun for all.
See all the photos from Jonatthon Harrison's Fuel Up to Play 60 visit here.
Harrison with students, staff, and ADA reps.
