Health Science Center wins silver medal in Texas Round Up

Health science center employees have a reason to be proud - a group of center faculty and staff took the Silver Medal in the Texas Round Up.

Thirty-two employees of the health science center completed the Round Up, earning third place honors.

"I was thrilled!" said Susie Quintana, Health Promotion Manager for the health science center's Founders' Activity Center and organizer of the silver-medal-winning team. "Since this was my first experience with the Round Up, I didn't know what to expect. However, I did know the health science center would have a good showing."

The Texas Round Up was developed by Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Department of Health to encourage Texans of all fitness levels to incorporate daily physical activity and healthy choices into their lives.

Participants signed up via the Texas Round Up Web site, committing to complete six weeks of physical activity. The health science center started with 113 participants, who each signed up to increase their level of activity to 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and track their progress on the Texas Round Up Web site for the six weeks of the program.

Quintana said this year's success gives her motivation to try to improve on the health science center's performance in next year's Round Up.

"There will definitely be a team next year," she said. "I plan to contact the individuals who participated this year in order to encourage them to become support and advocates for the program in their departments."

But a silver medal isn't the only benefit to the health science center's participation in the Round Up, Quintana said.

"Being involved in the Round Up provides health science center employees the opportunity to increase physical fitness and live longer, healthier lives," she said.

This year's participants were also treated to an awards luncheon on May 31 to celebrate their achievement.

For more information about the Texas Round Up, visit www.texasroundup.org.