Assistant Principal Chris Michaelis presented the Mighty Miler student participants with incentive t-shirts on Jan. 8.

A total of 19 students from instructors Andrea Zody and Jeana Dinkel’s class are participating in the program.

“Mighty Milers is a national program based in New York that encourages physical fitness, mainly running and walking,” Zody said.

Throughout the year every G2 class period, students accumulate miles by running and walking.

“They log their progress online,” Zody said. “When the students reach their goals, the program will send them incentives such as water bottles, medals, keychains and t-shirts.”

The students have already logged over 500 miles together, using various places in town.

“We use the Hays Med Fitness Trail, Gross Memorial Coliseum, the Hays High track, the mall, and Frontier Park,” Zody said. “We usually exercise inside when the weather is cold or storming.”

This is the first time the students have been sent incentives for their accomplishments.

“This program really teaches students about setting goals and accomplishing them,” Zody said. “It really builds their self-esteem and gives them the opportunity to do something they didn’t think they could do.”

16szhang@usd489.com