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Students rewarded for increased exercise by Cindy Abole Public Relations For six weeks, students exercised their choices as they relate to regular exercise and establishing healthy fitness habits as participants in MUSC Office of Student Programs and Harper Student Wellness Center’s Fit It In program.   The program  introduced and challenged students to engage in a regular exercise activity and embrace healthy lifestyles. The effort attracted 372 student-participants—both regular and first-time users of the Wellness Center facilities to be active or reinforce regular exercise in their daily routines. To support this effort, the center extended its weekday hours to accommodate students and their workout schedules.    “The Division of Education and Student Services and the Harper Student Wellness Center are committed to providing students with the best wellness opportunities on campus,” said Janis Newton, Harper Wellness Center program coordinator and a member of  the Student Health and Wellness Committee, which established the Fit It In Program. “Together, we implemented an incentive program that increases the potential for students to include fitness and exercise in their daily schedule. We know that students are busy; but through regular exercise they’re more likely to sleep, study and function better every day. We’re committed to creating an environment and programs that help students adopt healthy habits that can be supported throughout a lifetime.”   Students could participate in a variety of activities from dance, group exercise, strength training, adult boot camp, tennis and other racquet sports to yoga/Pilates, aquatics, martial arts fitness, fencing and intramural sports. Daily attendance was verified using the center’s handscan stations. Participation in any sports activity for 30 minutes equates to one exercise credit.   All full-time MUSC students who participated in workout activities and received two or more exercise credits were eligible to participate in the weekly prize drawings (regular user and non-user (first time) categories) of $25 cash or 30-minute massages, compliments of MUSC Center for Therapeutic Massage. Program participants who logged at least 12 half-hour workouts throughout the period also were entered to win the $200 grand prizes in both categories.   Grand prize winners were Teddy McRackan, Medicine (regular user) and Kaley Hasty, Pharmacy (first-time user).   College of Health Professions (CHP)-Physical Therapy student Reanne Rezzuti was among the student winners participating in Fit It In. Rezzuti and fellow CHP student, Anna Bucher, are a team when it comes to working out. Rezzuti heard about the program via  e-mail reminders sent to students.   “We work out anyway, so why not participate,” said Rezzuti who, together with Bucher, exercises two to three times per week in the Joe D. Bands Exercise class, intramural volleyball and cardiovascular exercise activities. “Having the chance to win prizes, especially cash, was an extra incentive to do it.”   Nursing student Clare Vernon also serves on MUSC’s Student Health and Wellness Committee.   “Good health and fitness have always been important to me,” said Clare Vernon, a second-year combined bachelor’s/master’s degree nursing student. Vernon, who has an undergraduate degree in exercise science, actively promoted Fit It In and sent e-mails to her 150 fellow nursing students encouraging their support. “It was the opinion of many  of the committee members that students should set an example as future health care professionals regarding their value of health and wellness in their own lives. As students, we’re aware of the complications caused by obesity, diabetes, lipidema and metabolic syndrome throughout our state. We should set more positive examples as we begin to work and practice within communities and meet and interact with patients.”   So far, Fit It In coordinators and the Wellness committee have been pleased with student response and plan to continue to support the program with students in the future.   For more information on Harper Student Wellness Center programs, visit http://www.musc.edu/hsc/. Weekly Fit It In student winners included: ($25)—Raeann Rezzuiti, Health Professions, John Lacy, Medicine; Katie Wagner, Pharmacy; Megan Boykin, Nursing;  Chris Bowers, Dental Medicine; Anna Bucher, Health Professions; Taylor Fricke, Health Professions; Molly Gentle, Medicine; Mary Schuler, Nursing; Leslie Mattingly, Dental Medicine; Robert Shapiro, Medicine; Dawn Bowers; Medicine; Camille Ching; Pharmacy; Amanda Pittman, Health Professions; Marissa Wentzler, Pharmacy; Rebecca Freeman, Nursing. Massage certificate winners—Megan Mollenhauer, Graduate Studies; Katie Ruthsatz, Health Professions; Alexis Hoeferlin, Graduate Studies; Robert Pratt, Dental Medicine.       Friday, April 11, 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.