Hammond Creek Middle School was recently awarded the American Heart Association’s “Rookie of the Year” Award for raising $4,477 through their Healthy Heart Challenge this past spring.

Physical education teachers Scott Houghton and Todd Hamontree were invited to the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge National Awards Ceremony.

The award recognizes the programming Hammond Creek infused in physical education classes and the influence it brought by ensuring the program extended throughout the district as an educational outreach to students and parents on heart health. 

Hammond Creek’s Healthy Heart Challenge, which encouraged students to participate in a health and physical education activity, successfully raised awareness about the importance of heart health while raising thousands of dollars for AHA research.

“It’s a great cause,” Houghton said. “I know a lot of people are affected by heart disease. For me, it’s an easy thing to get behind.”

Houghton said the teachers at Hammond Creek were more than willing to lend a helping hand during the challenge by encouraging students to participate and helping raise funds. 

“The Healthy Heart Challenge has been a good event for us,” Houghton said. “I think the kids really enjoy it and have a great time.”

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are the number one and number five causes of death but are both preventable. Learning about smart life choices and good heart health as a student are lessons that will stick with them throughout their lives.

For some, jumping rope, playing dodgeball and shooting hoops is just fun. For Hammond Creek students and staff, it's a matter of heart.

For more information on the American Heart Association, visit their website.