Students, faculty and staff will have the chance to participate in a variety of events at the second annual Pac-12 Well U Challenge this week, hosted at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) and Smith Gym.
University Recreation and Wellbeing Coordinator for the SRC, said participants can register throughout the week online and earn points for participating in a series of assessments for prizes. Cance said there will be multiple events held at the SRC. The first ten participants will receive a free T-shirt that reads “Crimson State of Mind” made from 100 percent recycled material.
Other prizes will include two Kindle fires, one for the highest number of participation points and another for most friend referrals on the website for the Pac-12 Challenge.
Cance said last year about 1,000 faculty and students participated in the challenge and 300 people have registered so far for this year.
“The Pac-12 Well U Challenge is a good opportunity to see how balanced you are as an individual and take stock of where you’re at with your wellbeing,” Cance said.
Joanne Green, director of programming for University Recreation and Wellbeing, said the challenge is designed for students to create awareness of their habits and keep track of their individual progress.
“Wellbeing affects everything that you do, and this challenge is important on an intellectual, environmental and of course a well-being level,” Green said.
WSU also participates in a separate wellness competition, the Pac-12 Annual Fitness Challenge. Green said this week's challenge is different from the Annual Fitness Challenge in some aspects and gives students the chance to improve and develop healthy habits rather than focusing on just the physical portion.
“The Pac-12 Well U Challenge is different than the Pac-12 Fitness Challenge held because instead of just competition between schools, we are supporting one another in their efforts to make healthier lifestyle choices, which provides a different kind of focus,” Green said.
Molly Schotzko, assistant director of marketing for the SRC, said she values the challenge as one that encourages campuses to build healthy communities throughout WSU’s online and regional campuses.
“This challenge is not just a competition but more of looking collectively to build healthy communities,” Schotzko said.
Along with the free T-shirt, other prizes that will be awarded include reusable items such as cups along with a drawing for $50 gift certificates to American Eagle. Free fitness classes at the SRC will also take place throughout the week. To register, visit pac12challenge.org/wellu/default.aspx. For a list of events, visit pac12challenge.org/wellu/events.aspx?school=1.
