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Program helps students fit in exercise, wellness Thirty-two days into 2008 and for MUSC students who’ve struggled to find time to exercise or commit to a regular fitness routine, help has arrived.   College of Nursing student Tracy Woodward works out as part of the Fit It In program. For information, visit http://www.musc.edu/hsc/students/fititin.html. Students can participate in a new fitness and wellness program that encourages activity and flexibility through March 9. The six-week program, Fit It In, was created to motivate students to be active and find fun, creative ways to exercise in a schedule that’s convenient to them.   All current, full-time students receive an MUSC Wellness Center membership as part of their tuition package. Wellness Center non-users (full-time students who have not activated their membership or had fewer than three visits to the facility) must activate their memberships and register for the Fit It In program in order to participate.   Students must complete a 30-minute workout session at MUSC’s Wellness Center  at least twice a week to be qualified for weekly prize drawings (in both the regular user and non-user categories), which include $25 cash and 30-minute massages courtesy of the MUSC Center for Therapeutic Massage. In early March, participants who complete 12 workouts within the six-week period are eligible to win $200 in cash prizes.    For each 30-minute workout activity a participating student completes, he or she will receive an exercise credit. Attendance is verified anytime a student checks in using the handscan stations. The numerous fitness activities students can participate in include adult boot camp, dance and group exercise, tennis, aquatics, strength training, racquetball and squash, martial arts and fencing.    To support students and all members, the Wellness Center will expand its operating hours beginning Feb. 1. The facility will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., every Monday through Thursday and 5:30 to 8 p.m. every Friday. On weekends, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays.   Students may register by visiting the Wellness Center membership desk or the Wellness Center Web site at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/hsc/students/fititinapp.html. Fit It In prize categories Weekly prize drawings—$25 for two contestants in each category (regular user and non-user categories) who have two or more exercise credits the week of the drawing. Students may enter the contest during any week of the competition to qualify for this drawing. Weekly prize drawings for both categories—30-minute massages courtesy of the MUSC Center for Therapeutic Massage. One massage will be awarded per week for both categories. Grand Prize Drawing ($200)—At the end of six weeks, one student from each category is eligible to win $200. The winner will be selected by a random drawing. To qualify for the grand prize, students must have earned 12 exercise credits throughout the six-week period. There can be no more than two weeks with no credits earned. Drawing rules The timeframe for exercising for the weekly drawing will run every Monday through Sunday of that week. For the weekly cash prize drawing, two names from each contestant category will be drawn from a list of eligible contestants for that week’s random drawing. The drawing will be conducted by Wellness Center membership staff. The weekly massage prize will also be drawn the same way, except  only be one name  will be drawn per week for both categories. Winners will be announced the following day via an Office of  Student Life e-mail with the names posted at the Wellness Center membership desk. Winners can stop by the Office of Student Programs (792-2693) to claim their prizes.  The grand prize drawing will be held March 9. One name from each category will be randomly drawn from a list of eligible contestants by Wellness Center membership staff. The winners will be announced the following day through a Student Life e-mail and posted at the Wellness Center membership desk.     Friday, Feb. 1, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.