College recognized promoting wellness, physical fitness.

VICTORY TWP. – For the second year, West Shore Community College has earned and will be recognized for a Governor’s Fitness Gold Level Award in the medium size organization category.

All of the awardees were selected by a committee of judges for their commitment to personal health, dedication to their communities, and the unique definition of what fitness means to them.

The college is being recognized as a workplace that promotes and encourages wellness, physical fitness and healthy living by offering a variety of employee initiatives including regular health check-ups, wellness workshops and seminars, interactive staff wellness challenges, credit for using the college’s Wellness Center and much more.

The college, along with other awardees, will be honored during the 2015 Governor’s Fitness Award Gala Celebration at Ford Field in Detroit on April 23.

“We are grateful to be recognized, once again, as an institution that actively pursues healthy lifestyles. Our faculty and staff, who are our most valuable assets, are committed to improving their overall health and we have seen some impressive results as a result of our wellness programs,” said Interim President Scott Ward.

“But this award also recognizes the hard work and dedication of Julie Page-Smith and the employee Wellness Team who inspire all of us to have healthier more active lives.”

Smith leads the College’s health and wellness programs and has been the director of the Wellness Center since 1998. She also chairs the Employee Wellness Team and is active in the community serving as committee member of the Win with Wellness Program and the Community Health Advisory Council.

The Governor’s Fitness Awards is an annual event that the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation host to honor inspiring stories of individuals and organizations that are making a difference in their community to keep people active and healthy.

According to the Foundation, 2015 has been a record-setting year for the award’s program with total nominations up by more than 44%.

In 1998, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports began recognizing Michigan organizations that recognize the importance of worksite wellness programming.