Nancy Benoit

Benoit's winning program, "Muscle Memory", will help in the fight against childhood obesity with an interactive exercise DVD and news pamphlet. Proper exercise and effective learning go hand-in-hand, with the body resting better and the brain working more efficiently from consistent exercise. Her students at Robert Frost Elementary will be featured in an exercise DVD, led by the school physical education teacher, that will be given to the more than 450 kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students at the school. The exercises featured in the video will address physical activity, as well as highlight the importance of crucial motor skills for children ages two-six. The DVD will not only be shared with the students, but also with their respective siblings of the same age. An insert pamphlet containing helpful physical activities for youngsters will also be created and distributed through a local newspaper, reaching over 8,000 households in their village. Benoit resides in Bourbonnais.