Meadow View receives health grant

A special guest and new money is giving Meadow View Elementary School students a new focus on health.

Meadow View plans to use a $4,000 grant to purchase equipment for the health of the students. Along with the Fuel Up to Play 60 grant, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and National Football League, the Radcliff school will be hosting former University of Kentucky and NFL player Artose Pinner as a motivation for students.

Pinner is scheduled to visit the school March 2 to speak to students and participate in an obstacle course, Principal Jim Sullivan said. Pinner entered the NFL draft in 2003 and played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons.

Cafeteria worker Karen Welcher and physical education teacher Chad Sweet teamed together to apply for the grant, after discussing opportunities the grant could provide, Sullivan said.

“We worked really hard at building a collaborative culture focused on doing what’s best for kids,” he said.

Welcher will use some of the money to purchase a smoothie machine, which will give children a healthy snack option.

Sweet will use his portion of the grant money to buy a Wii Fit console, which provides exercise-oriented activities through the gaming system.

Sullivan said the grant and Pinner’s visit show what a conversation can accomplish.

“This is a true example of two people collaborating,” he said.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.