Plainfield Teen Selected As 'Fuel Up to Play 60' Ambassador

Shauna Gilles, 13, daughter of Tim and Mary Gilles of Plainfield and soon to be an eighth-grade student at Heritage Grove Middle School, was selected as one of five students to serve as a National Ambassador for Fuel Up to Play 60.  

The in-school nutrition and physical activity program created in partnership with Midwest Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with USDA, Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages students to eat healthy, be active and make positive, healthy changes in their schools and communities. 

“We are so excited to welcome this amazing group of young people into their new leadership roles,” said Melissa Young, director of health and wellness for Midwest Dairy Council. “These outstanding students have shown a great passion for Fuel Up to Play 60, and we’re delighted that they’ve chosen to inspire their peers and communities to eat healthy and get active. I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the upcoming school year.”

Shauna was encouraged by one of her physical education teachers last school year, to check-out Fuel Up to Play 60 and take the pledge.  After participating in a Fuel Up to Play 60 walk-a-thon, helping to introduce healthy oatmeal breakfast options at her school, creating “healthy” food art with fruits and vegetables, and earning a trip to the Illinois Fuel Up to Play 60 Reward Summit at Soldier Field, she’s excited to use her platform as a National Ambassador for the program to encourage others to learn more about how eating healthy and staying active can help translate to better academic performance, as well as healthier bodies.

National Ambassadors, along with 54 State Ambassadors, lead the Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Program, which engages youth directly as leaders to increase access to nutrient-rich foods and 60 minutes of physical activity at school. From smoothie stations to walking clubs, Fuel Up to Play 60 helps students create healthier school environments in nearly 73,000 schools nationwide. The program also encourages and recognizes schools and students with rewards, such as a trip to the Super Bowl, official NFL gear and NFL player appearances.  

Selected from a nationwide search that drew more than 1,000 applicants, these National and State Ambassadors recently returned from a four-day Student Ambassador Summit for Fuel Up to Play 60 in Charlotte, N.C. at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers. The annual Summit brought together Fuel Up to Play 60 student leaders and adult educators who are committed to improving their school and community by eating smart and staying active.