West Branch Student Group Promotes Core Principles of Health to Peers

A dozen Aultman Ambassadors at West Branch High School under the leadership of Teresa Santee are committed to creating positive impacts on their peers through education and activities supporting student well-being.

On Thursday, January 26, 250 West Branch High School students enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa during the group’s Calm Down Cocoa lunch event during the end-of-semester testing. The high school’s Aultman Ambassadors were inspired to provide a way for their peers to relax and regroup during testing with this event.

Each month, the ambassadors bring events highlighting resources and spreading knowledge about one or more of the core focus areas of the Aultman Ambassadors program: Nutrition, Hydration, Physical Activity, Stress, and Sleep. This year, West Branch Aultman Ambassadors have educated their peers in educational rounds of Nutrition Bingo, engaged the building in a themed door decorating contest in collaboration with Student Council, and informed individuals with trivia and fun facts. Events and activities are accompanied by educational bulletin boards sharing facts and tips with the student body.

In February, they are spreading the word about heart health. West Branch Aultman Ambassadors will be selling heart-shaped cards to be delivered to students in the high school and encourage everyone to wear red on Valentine’s Day to recognize American Heart Month.

“Our hope is that students start making healthy choices now and that it will carry over into their adult life,” says Santee, CMA, Aide, Nurse at West Branch High School.

The Aultman Ambassador Program was founded through the Aultman Health Foundation with the mission to improve the overall health and well-being of youth by implementing ongoing health promotion and prevention, resulting in a healthier community. Three scholarships will be awarded to West Branch Aultman Ambassadors through the program. 

In addition, West Branch High School receives a grant to use for equipment or resources to further assist students in improving their well-being centered around the program’s five focus areas.

Santee notes that water bottle filling stations added from a previous year’s grant have already started shaping healthy hydration habits in West Branch High School students. “I see a lot of students carrying water bottles and filling them up at our water stations,” she says.

This year, the district will be adding workout equipment, including weights, medicine balls, and battle ropes to help encourage physical activity in students through the support of the grant.

West Branch Aultman Ambassadors Olivia Greeneisen, Ariana Aldridge and Cayla Sharp at January’s Calm Down Coca during end-of-semester testing.

West Branch Aultman Ambassador students create informative bulletin boards to promote student health.
 

West Branch High School Aultman Ambassadors engaged the building with a themed door decorating competition focusing on nutrition, hydration, physical activity, stress management and sleep in December.
 

Aultman Ambassadors, including Isabelle Sharp, are promoting heart health in February.
 

West Branch High School students participate in Nutrition Bingo hosted by the district’s Aultman Ambassadors group. Shown: Brynley Smith, Alexis Gregory, Macy Wilson, Preston Prodger and Maria Manley.