AKtive Alaska Sports Hall of Fame /Healthy Futures Newsletter VOL. 01 NO. 06 Spring 2018 ALASKA’S YOUTH & A HEALTHY FUTURE! As Healthy Futures wraps up its 15th year of class of Youth Directors’ Awards recipients partnering with Alaska schools to provide at our annual Alaska Sports Hall of Fame the Healthy Futures Challenge, I’m pleased ceremony at the Anchorage Museum What’s to reflect on the staying power of a grass on April 24th. The objective with these roots project started by the late Bonny Sosa awards is to bring back statewide sports- and her husband Sam Young. wide awards to recognize our outstanding Inside: high school-aged athletes (the Anchorage Kids from Akutan to Anaktuvuk Pass fill Daily News discontinued naming Alaska’s Organization Update...... 1 out their monthly activity logs nowadays. best high school athlete in 2009), and But there is so much more going on as we also recognize the outstanding quality of About Us...... 2 continue looking for meaningful ways to character we see in so many of our young promote a healthy youth population in our athletes, by naming a Youth Trajan Langdon Event Support Highlights...... 2 state. Award winner each year. The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame concluded We were overwhelmed by the volume of Trending On The Blog ...... 2 its third PLAAY (Positive Leadership for outstanding nominees. We received dozens Active Alaska Youth) Summit in February in each category and had to make difficult Healthy Sleep in Chlildren.....3 with speakers presenting on topics ranging decisions in naming the winners. Of the from healthy sleep habits in children (see nearly 100 nominations we received, ALL Healthy Futures Updates...... 3 page 3) to addressing the opioid epidemic. were worthy of celebration and will receive formal recognition from the Hall. The Our Youth Awards Winners....4 Thousands of children across Alaska winners in each category are profiled on joined us for PLAAY Day - half hour of page 4 as well as a list of finalists. synchronized and simultaneous physical 100 Miles in May...... 4 activity – to get communities moving, and Administering our inaugural youth talking about the importance of being awards was a reaffirming process for Featured Teacher...... 5 physically active. We even welcomed our organization. While the athletic schools schools from Kentucky and Ohio to achievements we saw in our nominees Supporters...... 6 join us this year! was impressive, most remarkable was how many of these young men and women Jim Balamaci Tribute...... 6 Healthy Futures currently supports over 100 are outstanding leaders, scholars, citizens youth physical activity events across the and role models in their communities. The state by providing medals, bibs, DJ’s, event young people in our state give us much to equipment, promotion, and Healthy Hero be proud of and reason to be optimistic for role models to interact with the kids. We our future. At the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame work to add the fun factor. And while there along with our Healthy Futures program and is nothing better than a fun run to get a PLAAY initiative, we are committed to giving family out moving, we’ve found other ways our youth the best chance to be successful. to partner around our state in engaging children from ski events in Point Hope, to ice fishing in Soldotna, to parties in Wasilla (see page 2)! The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Board of Harlow Robinson Directors will be recognizing our inaugural Executive Director HEALTHY FUTURES: EVENT SUPPORT HIGHLIGHTS About Us Photos by MATIAS SAARI Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Healthy Futures was busy this winter participating in a wide variety of events, including a winter www.alaskasportshall.org trails day, a winter jamboree and the NANA Nordic program that teaches youth to ski in villages Healthy Futures across Alaska. www.healthyfuturesak.org PLAAY www.plaay.org

11901 Industry Way Unit A9 Anchorage, AK 99515 Healthy Futures staff and Healthy Heroes visited Point Hope in March as part of the ConocoPhilips Executive Director: Spring Break Camp along with Skiku volunteers. Harlow Robinson Healthy Futures partnered with Healthy Futures partnered with Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage Skiku in April to teach youth cross and other groups for Ski for Kids in country skiing in the North Slope Development Director: February. village of Point Hope. Shelley Romer

Healthy Futures Challenge Coordinator: Alyse Loran

Healthy Futures Event Coordinator: Matias Saari

Healthy Futures Administrative Assistant: Mark Brady

PLAAY Director: Students from six Anchorage Title 1 Wally Wilson schools experienced winter sports at the Anchorage School District PLAAY Leaders, along with MC Holly Winter Jamboree February 15th. Jessie LeBeau shoots around at the Brooks and PLAAY keynote speaker Spring Into Activity: Block Party on Alaska Sports Blog Editor David Marsh, celebrate the end of PLAAY March 31st, an event put on in Wasilla in Van WIlliams Day 2018 on February 22nd. conjunction with United Way Mat-Su.

Board of Directors: Jason Metrokin, Board Chair Trending On the Blog: The Biggest Stories of the Past 6 Months Matt Carle, Vice Chair Alaska Sports Hall of Fame blogger Van Williams is a former Anchorage Daily News Sports Editor Chris Myers, Secretary & and Alaska Press Club award winner. Williams has been with the blog since the beginning and has Treasurer written more than 3,000 stories on over 500 Alaska athletes.

Chuck Homan 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 Nina Kemppel # Of Gina Luckey Shares Eric Ohlson Rick Mystrom 1,044 Hepa happy to be back in Alaska before heading off to Texas Bill Pearson

11901 Industry Way, Unit A-9 Anchorage, AK 99515 1,024 Winners for Inaugural Youth Awards Announced

Twitter: Instagram 698 Against all odds, Hale rebounds to author historic college career @AKsportshall healthyfuturesak @AKactivekids alaska_sports_hall Facebook healthyfuturesak 670 Fa’amasino, Pili look to become Alaska’s college bowl heroes Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

587 Anchorage middle schoolers win hoops tourney in Oregon Check the full articles out at: http://alaskasportsall.org/alaska-sports-blog/ 2 FROM THE PLAAY BOOK: Excerpts from Experts on Youth Health HEALTHY SLEEP IN CHILDREN: It is reading bedtime stories) also signals The listed hours include naps: common knowledge that adequate, our mind that bedtime is approaching. Infants 4 months to 12 months: 12 – 16 good-quality sleep is important in Other factors that can influence hours per 24 hours the development of children. And the ability to fall asleep are the yet, insomnia is the most common Children 1 to 2 years of age: 11 – 14 environment and the activities hours per 24 hours complaint from parents with throughout the day. Ideally, the regards to sleep problems in this room should be quiet and dark. A Children 3 to 5 years of age: 10 – 13 population. Although certain sleep room temperature on the cooler side hours per 24 hours disorders may be the cause of the (between 65-70oF) with blankets to insomnia, oftentimes the difficulty Children 6 to 12 years of age: 9 – 12 stay warm is optimal. If possible, avoid hours per 24 hours in initiating or maintaining sleep using the bedroom and bed for any may be due to poor sleep hygiene other activity aside from sleeping. Teenagers 13 – 18 years of age: 8 – 10 or suboptimal sleep environment. The use of any electronic device with hours per 24 hours According to Centre for Clinical a screen (television, tablets, smart Children with inadequate sleep are at Interventions, sleep hygiene phones) within 2 hours of bedtime increased risk for obesity, depression, simply means sleep habits. These exposes the eyes to excessive amount and hypertension. can include bedtimes, wake of light (which simulates daytime) and For more information on healthy sleep times, types of activities around should be avoided. Exercise during in children, visit bedtimes, sleep schedules, sleep the day can promote better sleep at environment, and diet. Good night, but it may disrupt the ability to www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/docs/Info- sleep hygiene is achieved by fall asleep if done within 4 hours of sleep%20hygiene.pdf optimizing habits that promote bedtime. Caffeine is a wake-promoting sleep and avoiding those that stimulant that can exert its effect up sabotage it. Training the mind to to 6 hours after ingestion; therefore, www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/ recognize bedtime is one method one should be mindful of the time aap-press-room/pages/American- of promoting sleep. For example, when eating or drinking anything with Academy-of-Pediatrics-Supports- having the same bedtimes caffeine (e.g., chocolate, coffee). Childhood-Sleep-Guidelines.aspx and wake times daily help our Lastly, the American Academy of bodies synchronize our internal Pediatrics (AAP) has stated that Harry Yuan, DO, MPH, FCCP, FAASM clocks (circadian rhythm) with adequate sleep in children leads to the environmental clock (time) improved behavior, better learning, and Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep and prepares us to fall asleep as higher quality of life. Therefore, they Medicine bedtime approaches. Similarly, have endorsed the recommendation The Children’s Hospital at Providence having the same bedtime routine from the American Academy of Sleep (e.g., bath, teeth brushing, Medicine (AASM) regarding sleep hours changing into pajamas, and for different age groups.

HEALTHY FUTURES ELEMENTARY CHALLENGE UPDATE By ALYSE LORAN The Fall Healthy Futures Challenge among the finishers. Congratulations Alakanuk School, Aurora Elementary, wrapped up with over 14,000 to all the finishers, and thanks to Baxter Elementary, Barnette Magnet participants from 165 schools across Skinny Raven! School, Birchwood ABC School, the state participating; and the Campbell Elementary, Cantwell Spring Challenge, running February We’d also like to recognize all of the School, Eagle Community School, through April, is off to a strong start schools that earned a longevity award Houghtaling Elementary, Mikelnguut with students from 150 schools by completing the fall challenge. Elitnaurviat, Pt. Higgins School, Rae completing activity logs through Five challenge longevity award C. Stedman Elementary, Rogers Park March. winners include Tok Elementary, Elementary, Delta Junction Elementary, Craig Elementary, Johnny Cottonwood Creek Elementary, College The third annual Marathon Oldman School, Kaleidoscope Gate Elementary, and North Pole. March Challenge saw over School of Arts and Sciences, 200 kids completing at Kiana School, Port Graham, least 26.2 miles of running Raven Correspondence in the month of March. School Anchorage, Sponsored by Skinny Raven Correspondence Raven Sports, kids who School Wasilla, Salcha completed the marathon were given Elementary, Shungnak School, a Marathon March sticker to display Tanaina Elementary, University their accomplishment. Skinny Raven Park Elementary, White Mountain also provided three pairs of running School, Moose Pass School, and shoes for a random drawing from Nome Elementary. Ten challenge longevity award winners include 3 4 MEET OUR INAUGURAL YOUTH AWARDS WINNERS BY VAN WILLIAMS

PRIDE OF ALASKA AWARD: PRIDE OF ALASKA AWARD TRAJAN LANGDON AWARD GIRLS: ALISSA PILI BOYS: GUS SCHUMACHER BRENNER FURLONG No doubt To say that Service’s Gus Schumacher A senior at Soldotna, Furlong Dimond excels in skiing is a vast understatement. serves his community, school and High sports He was the highest-ranking junior at the family with exemplarity dedication star Alissa Pili 2018 Nordic national championships and rigor. He’s prouder of his cares about and anchored the historic, silver- selfless service than his athletic winning, but medal winning U.S. relay team at the achievements. And although most she might World Junior Championships. He people know him for his play under care more was Skimeister at the Alaska state the bright lights, you could say his about being championships for the second time and best work comes when nobody is a good helped the Cougars to the team title, looking. His combined class and teammate and he earned two podiums at the 2018 competitiveness helped Furlong Alissa Pili and a Junior Nationals. win the inaugural Alaska Sports Hall good sport “I try to of Fame Trajan Langdon Award for with opponents. Character and represent it his leadership, sportsmanship and championships are not mutually well and make inspiration. “For someone else to exclusive in her book. The 6-footer is in it seem like a recognize that is a huge honor and large supply of both as she continues cool thing,” he I’d like to say thank you,” he said. He to carve out a prestigious prep career said. “I like it was Gatorade Alaska Football Player by winning her eighth state title in her a lot. It’s hard of the Year in 2016-17 and a two-time fourth sport. Now she’s an inaugural to be a good Offensive Player of the Year on the winner of the Alaska Sports Hall of skier without gridiron, 400-meter state champion Fame’s Pride of Alaska Award. liking it a in track and pays special attention to kids who need extra help, either “I appreciate this award very much lot because there is so due to a physical disability or in need and am thankful for receiving it, but Gus Schumacher of additional support with rides or honestly I don’t let all these individual much hard, monotonous work.” help studying. Furlong can usually awards get to my head,” Pili told me. “ be found I want to be remembered as not just a There’s nothing dull about Schumacher. hanging great player, but a great person. I want The 17-year-old was picked as an out with to be remembered as someone who inaugural winner of the Alaska Sports a fellow plays with heart and passion and stays Hall of Fame’s Pride of Alaska Award. student humble.” “That made me feel great, especially who is in a The two-time Gatorade Alaska Player to be among the inaugural winners wheelchair of the Year led the undefeated and and with so many great candidates,” he due to nationally ranked Lynx girls basketball said. “When I see the list of candidates cerebral team to a state title with a 22-point, it makes me feel so good to be in that palsy, 20- performance in the pool among some really great Alaska and he championship game. She also owns athletes.” Brenner Furlong consistently state titles in track and field, wrestling mentors and volleyball. A senior at Service who also competes younger players, carrying on a for the Alaska Winter Stars, Schumacher tradition in the Stars football program “Finally winning a state title in is a 4.0 student who has competed basketball was the best feeling ever that did not lose a game in his career. on both the cross-country running He learned how to be a winner on and I’m glad I got to experience it with and cross-country ski teams. As a such an amazing group of people,” she and off the field from legendary runner, Schumacher won the state Soldotna coach Galen Brantley. said. The NCAA D1 prospect has been championship in his junior year before offered a college scholarship from Saint “He taught us how to respect other sitting out his senior year to focus people and grow up to be good men,” Mary’s, BYU, Hawaii and Butler. Pili is on skiing. Now that his prep career is the kind of role model younger players Furlong said. “He would tell us, ‘If I finished, he will focus on the next level. taught you just how to win football can look up to. “I am very proud to be Not in college, but the national circuit. “I in that kind of position and to motivate games but you’re a horrible guy, then absolutely advocate for skiing. I like it a I failed as a coach.’” Furlong wants and inspire other kids to do what they lot,” he said. “It’s hard to be a good skier love.” to dedicate this award to Brantley. without liking it a lot because there is so “That’s why I’m super, super thankful PRIDE OF ALASKA much hard, monotonous work.” to win this award,” he said. “Not in my GIRLS FINALISTS: honor, but in his honor. Thank you, Sydnee Kimber, Mount Edgecumbe coach, for teaching me the right way.” Kendall Kramer, Fairbanks TRAJAN LANGDON AWARD FINALISTS: Van Williams is a staff writer for the Alaska Sports BOYS FINALISTS: Tatum Bayne, Sitka Hall of Fame and the editor of the Alaska Sports Thomas Dyment, Bethel Simeon Beardon, Anchorage Blog. Arctic Ivanoff, Unalakleet Brandon Gall, Anchorage Grace Miller, Palmer Jacob Moos, Galena Tobin Karlberg, Anchorage Duncan Okitkun, Kotlik Derryk Snell, Eagle River 5

Healthy Futures: FEATURED TEACHER MEGHAN REDMOND Name: Meghan Redmond for the tide to come in so that the water would be high enough for us to get back to the village! School: Chief Ivan Blunka School (New Stuyahok, My favorite recreation/fitness activity is . . . Alaska) going for long hikes in the tundra with my dogs and family. Any time we travel to a new place, we always Position: Vice Principal find a place to hike to find a beautiful view! Years as a Teacher: The most inspirational thing a student has ever 11 years as a teacher/ said to me is . . .when a former student asked me administrator, 8 of those to be his high school graduation speaker, because I years in Alaska was his favorite teacher he had ever had. Years participating in My favorite strategy for motivating kids to the Healthy Futures live a healthy lifestyle is . . . playing right along Challenge: 1st year with them, whether that is in Phy. Ed. Class, on the playground, or out on a hike in the tundra! My hero is . . . Debra Buckingham, my high school choir director, because . . . she is the one who inspired me to become Other thoughts: At Chief Ivan Blunka School, a teacher when I was in high school. She had an incredible work staying healthy and active is a team effort! Every ethic, an amazing sense of humor, and a caring heart for each teacher and student that participate in Healthy and every student. Futures are working together to build a better future! I want to give a special thank you to the When I’m not in the classroom you will find me . . .playing elementary teachers who have helped facilitate with my kids (Liberty and Wilder), and my dogs, (Fern and Healthy Futures this year… Kylie Shuneson, Leah Piper), or making quilts. Sizemore, Danielle Dooley, Hannah Therrell, and The craziest place I have ever been is . . . with my husband Hannah Barr! At Chief Ivan Blunka School, we are on our boat stuck in the mud at low tide in Togiak Bay, waiting proud to follow #TheEagleWay! OUR SUPPORTERS: THANK YOU! Sponsor Highlight

Carr Foundation

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IN APPRECIATION OF JIM BALAMACI: By HARLOW ROBINSON Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Board President Jim Balamaci passed away Feb 1st. Jim was an extraordinary leader as President and CEO of Special Olympics Alaska for over 20 years. As a founding director of the Hall, Jim was instrumental in helping establish the organization around its mission to Teach, Honor and Inspire, always a steady mentor and innovative thinker. Moreover, Jim gave a voice to athletes with disabilities. It was his wish that these athletes should have every opportunity on the same stages as the able-bodied. The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame will strive to honor Jim’s wish and his legacy. He will be missed.