Annual award recognizes schools for dedication to student, staff, and family health
Murray, Ky., Sept. 4, 2024– Alliance for a Healthier Generation has named Murray Elementary School one of America’s Healthiest Schools for 2024. This annual recognition honors schools for implementing best practices to support the health of students, staff, and families. Murray Elementary is among the 879 schools across thirty states awarded this year.
Murray Elementary School was one of 66 United States schools, and one of the ten Kentucky schools receiving an All-Star Award. Murray Elementary joins eight Barren County schools, and Christian County, in the Commonwealth as All Star Recipients.
Murray Middle School and Murray High School were named 2024 Awardees.
America’s Healthiest Schools are recognized in up to nine categories. Murray Elementary School was recognized for:
Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning, presented by Kaiser Permanente
Cultivating Staff Well-Being, presented by Kaiser Permanente
Increasing Family & Community Engagement, presented by Kohl’s
Improving Nutrition & Food Access, presented by Del Monte Foods
Implementing Local School Wellness Policy
Bolstering Physical Education & Activity
Enriching Health Education
Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools
Supporting School Health Services
Denise Whitaker, Murray Elementary School principal, said Murray Elementary School has been implementing numerous plans and programs to improve the overall wellness for their students, families, and staff. “We have a great Wellness Committee that applies new ideas and motivates our school to participate in many wellness activities,” Whitaker explained. “Our team of district staff members representing Food Service, our school nurse and Family Resource Youth Service Center, Murray State University Agriculture Department associates, along with our teachers and staff, strive to provide the healthiest school environment for our students and team. A huge thank you also goes to Baptist Health for supporting and motivating us to earn this great award.”
“When met with challenges, America’s Healthiest Schools consistently respond with creativity and resilience,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer at Healthier Generation. “We thank and honor these educators and administrators for their dedication to building equitable school environments where students and staff can thrive.”
See the full list of recognized schools at healthiergeneration.org/2024-awardees.
Healthier Generation award representatives will be recognized at America’s Healthiest School Leaders Summit, October 24-26, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a leading children's health organization that advances equitable whole child health. Driven by our passion to ensure that every mind, everybody, and every young person is healthy and ready to succeed, our work has reached over 31 million young people across the country.