Latest News Local News Three Fit Kids Youth Advisory Council Members featured in the Duncan paper
Three Fit Kids Youth Advisory Council Members featured in the Duncan paper
Duncan High School students selected for Fit Kid Coalition
Featured in the Duncan Banner
State Rep. Anastasia Pittman poses with Kelsey LeValley, Blakeley Pearson, and Brooklyn Scott from the Fit Kid Coalition.
DUNCAN — To stay healthy, it takes a proper diet, exercise and determination. For three Duncan High School students, being healthy is a way of life.
Brooklyn Scott, Kate LeValley and Blakeley Pearson were selected to participate in the Oklahoma Fit Kid Coalition.
There were 15 students from across the state selected to participate in the coalition. Aside from Duncan, students on the coalition are from Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Snyder, Altus, Blair and El Reno.
To take part in the coalition, students had to apply and be accepted into the program. For some of them, the idea of taking part in the coalition came from a parent or a counselor. For others, it was only after looking for something to participate in that the program was discovered.
LeValley, Pearson and Scott said they enjoy staying active and see the importance of encouraging others to be health conscious.
Pearson said she changed her eating habits about two years ago and noticed a change in herself. She said she felt better and had more energy.
Pearson isn't the only one who likes to stay active and healthy. LeValley is a member of the DHS tennis team, and Scott is a member of the Lady Demons basketball team at the high school.
The coalition had a kickoff meeting Oct. 16 at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The three DHS students joined the other students on the coalition to discuss what the main health concerns were for their high schools, and what they could do to improve the situation and promote healthy choices for their peers.
"We evaluated our schools," Scott said.
She said her main concern for DHS students was exercise because many aren't required to stay physically active.
LeValley said she's excited about the coalition because it has provided the students with ideas they can take to their high school to help other students. She said they're just getting started, but she expects some good things to take place.
"I think it's just a great experience and reminder," LeValley said. "Remind yourself to stay active. It's one thing to say it. It's another to do it yourself.
"It's surprising how many unhealthy influences there are."
The local students have already been taking part in a program to help raise awareness of healthier living and to help American troops. The students established the Treats for Troops program, where Duncan students could donate a portion of their Halloween candy to be given to the troops overseas. They delivered boxes to Duncan school sites to take the donations.
The trio are hoping their actions will have a positive influence on their fellow students and their community.
"It feels good to be helping two people at once," LeValley said. "It's good to give back to them."
Pearson said it took a lot of work to get the Treats for Troops program running in a short amount of time, but everything fell into place the closer things got.
Scott, Pearson and LeValley have been planning various other programs to raise more health awareness and to do something for others.
"I think our high school has done well," Scott said.
The students have set personal goal in what they want to see take place in Duncan schools and the community. For Scott, the goal is to help Duncan students be healthier. LeValley said she wants to see other people getting involved in making the community healthier.
For Pearson, it's about making healthy living fun.
"I want to see a change in people's lifestyles," Pearson said. "I want to see them having fun doing something healthy. Maybe someone else can say 'This will work for me, too.'"
— Derrick Miller is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 144, or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
