FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2017, 9:00 a.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402-872-2429
Nebraska City – Peru State faculty Dr. Kyle Ryan and Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan are seeking twelve Peru
State undergraduate students to join AmeriCorps as part of the Children’s Health,
Activity and Nutrition Community Engagement (CHANCE) Initiative. The CHANCE Initiative
will provide afterschool physical education opportunities in Nebraska City elementary
and middle schools.
Dr. Kyle Ryan, professor of kinesiology, said, “The structural and cultural limitations
in rural areas make addressing obesity difficult at best. While many people see the
rural landscape as offering unlimited opportunity for exercise, the truth is that
seasonal changes make this impossible.”
The CHANCE Initiative Logo.
“As a result, attempts at physical activity are quite limited given the number of
recreation facilities and lack of transportation. The CHANCE Initiative will train
Peru State students to provide afterschool programs and increase the total minutes
of daily physical activity for students.”
Peru State students chosen for the program will be trained as AmeriCorps members.
Training will also include obesity prevention and intervention, lesson planning using
the CATCH curriculum, partnering with community organizations, civic engagement, leadership,
mentoring, and career development.
Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan, professor of business, said, “The CHANCE Initiative has a
history of successfully implementing AmeriCorps programs to benefit local communities
including Auburn and the Johnson-Brock Public Schools.”
“With engagement being a cornerstone at Peru State, this type of service-learning
opportunity is paramount in allowing our students to embark on experiential learning
in our local community. We are excited to see the CHANCE Initiative expand to Nebraska
City Public Schools.”
The AmeriCorps Logo.
Ryan continues, “The CHANCE Initiative was a Rural Futures project I proposed with
Dr. Grotrian-Ryan and University of Nebraska at Omaha Assistant Professor Danae Dinkel.”
Benefits of joining the CHANCE Initiative include: a living stipend; educational award;
lifelong recognition as an AmeriCorps member; networking; community partnerships;
local, regional and national opportunities for conference participation and presentation.
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