Sweat Hawgs

SWEAT HAWGS

LADY RAZORBACK SWEAT HAWG PROGRAM BACKGROUND INFORMATION/SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS

The “SWEAT HAWG” program is a collaborative community outreach effort between the University of Arkansas Women’s Athletics Program and the Fayetteville Public Schools.

“SWEAT HAWGS” launched its pilot program during the 2004-05 academic year. The program is now in its third year, incorporates all nine Fayetteville elementary schools, and includes all of its third, fourth and fifth graders (nearly 2,000 students/approximately 120 physical education classrooms). Fayetteville schools include: Asbell, Butterfield Trail, Happy Hollow, Holcomb, Leverett, Owl Creek, Root, Vandergriff and Washington Elementary.

In 2001, the Youth Risk behavior Surveillance Survey indicated that 80% of our students did not eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and that 34% did not get enough physical activity. Newer data are more alarming. Preliminary results from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement showed that 40% of the children in Arkansas public schools were overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. Children and youth spend a large amount of their time in schools, which strongly influences behavior and the development of lifelong lifestyle patterns.

The Sweat Hawg program is intended to support teachers and students in their pursuit of healthy habits, including eating right, along with a lifetime of physical activity. Lady Razorback athletes provide support and serve as role models by visiting the physical education classes throughout the year, and providing a public platform to recognize and reward students who have excelled.

Achievement will be based on standards outlined within the State-adopted physical education curriculum including pre- and post-testing and a program led by certified Physical Education teachers within each school.

Each program participant will receive a SWEAT HAWG t-shirt. Awards will be provided to the winning school, classroom and individuals who have achieved and/or improved within the recognized health and fitness zones. Honorees will be recognized at halftime of a Lady Razorback basketball game. Lady Razorback teams will be on-hand supporting the winners during the awards ceremony.

Corporate sponsors can play an essential role in this collaborative effort. Public relations, corporate, and community support are all needed to help create awareness and enthusiasm about the program, to provide fun, memorable and meaningful mementos to participants, prizes to winners and program certificates for all attendees.

Originating and current major sponsors include Washington Regional Medical Center, and The Bank of Fayetteville. Since the inception of the Sweat Hawg program Tyson Foods has also joined. Media sponsors include the Northwest Arkansas Times/Democrat Gazette and KNWA. Contributing sponsors include Arkansas Marketing Specialties, Lewis and Clark and The American Heart Association.