First Lady Launches "Health VI Challenge" Initiative in the Territory, School Video Contest Kicks Off for Grades 7,8,9,10

First Lady Cecile de Jongh is pleased to announce the launch of Healthy VI Challenge, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness on overall health and wellness for all residents of the Territory. As part of this important effort, a committee of local experts on nutrition, health, and wellness was formed to address the complex challenges associated with these issues. The First Lady has also partnered with Ourstage.com, an online video promoter, to host a School Video Contest for grades 7-10 that invites students Territory-wide to create informational Public Service Announcements on healthy living. Ourstage has successfully worked with the First Ladies of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina on similar efforts, and winning student PSAs will be featured on local television and radio. Cash awards prizes will also be distributed to the winning teams and their respective schools.

“As a society we often face challenges in following a proper diet and exercise program due to our own busy schedules. Naturally, we all want what is best for our families nutritionally, and at a cost that is affordable. Keeping this in mind, the Healthy VI Challenge initiative utilizes the expert guidance of local experts to engage the community in various mediums to spread a renewed message on how to lead healthy lives. Through the expert guidance of this committee, we hope to elevate the conversation Territory-wide on smart nutritional choices and balanced living,” First Lady de Jongh said.

In launching the School Video Contest for the Healthy VI Challenge effort, First Lady de Jongh has reached out to all school principals responsible for grade levels 7-10 and has provided an overview of the scope of the project for Superintendents Molloy and Smith Barry for the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John School Districts, respectively.

“I am pleased to be working with schools throughout the Territory and our own Virgin Islands youth on the importance of healthy eating, proper diet and exercise, and good overall mental health. With this contest we hope to spur excitement and creativity in our students, and challenge them to produce and develop Public Service Announcements that speak to these issues by providing informational, educational, or entertaining videos for the benefit of the general community. It’s also a unique opportunity for young people to creatively express themselves and to be recognized and rewarded for their efforts. I look forward to viewing the students’ videos,” First Lady de Jongh said.

Students who wish to participate in the School Video Contest may log onto www.ourstage.com/go/healthyusvi as of today to review the rules and regulations of the contest, as well as examples of winning entries from similar competitions, prize information, and other important details. Students are encouraged to participate by joining a student team and utilizing the professional media resources being provided. Student teams must be a minimum of two and a maximum of five people, and only students from grades 7-10 may participate. Once videos have been submitted online for judging, all students and all residents of the Territory may sign up at the web site to vote for their favorite submissions. Videos should be no longer than 60 seconds and may be in the format of a commercial, news broadcast segment, talk show, music video, or short play. The deadline for submission of videos is April 22, 2009.

First Lady de Jongh encourages all eligible students throughout the Territory to visit the Ourstage.com web site to review the parameters of the School Video Contest and thanks all school principals, teachers, and administrators who are dedicating time to facilitate this important effort.