Governor Janet Mills and fitness icon Jake (Body by Jake) Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC), announced Gorham Middle School (GMS) as one of three Maine schools that were selected to each receive a state-of-the-art $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center.
The multi-million dollar DON’T QUIT! Campaign named Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School in Deer Isle and SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft, along with GMS, as the state’s most outstanding schools for demonstrating leadership in getting and keeping their students fit.
“The last year has proven just how important investing in the health of our students is to keeping our state strong,” said Governor Mills. “I congratulate these deserving schools on being selected to receive a state-of- the-art fitness center and I thank them for their commitment to the health and well-being of Maine children.”
“We had an overwhelming response from elementary and middle schools throughout the great state of Maine,” said Steinfeld. “Three schools really embodied our mission of building a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world. Congratulations to all, we look forward to visiting these three schools during our ribbon cutting ceremonies this fall.”
Photo credit Gorham Times StaffAlex Turkey (left) and Zack Bourgoin (right), GMS 6th grade students, showed non-working treadmills in the YouTube video submitted with the school’s successful application for a new fitness center.
GMS Principal Quinton Donahue said that the new center will be housed in a large multi-purpose room, currently used as an auxiliary lunch room, that already has some out-dated exercise equipment. “Every year I have requested new fitness equipment, but there are always needs that have more priority,” he said, “so we are thrilled to have been given this facility.”
With machines color-coded for middle-school students and a fully matted floor, it will be used for gym classes and athletes. Any GMS student will be able to access it during open hours.
GMS students and teachers worked together in applying for the grant. Sarah Titus and Michelle Higgins, GMS physical education teachers, did the paperwork.
As part of the application, students created a YouTube video presentation that made an appeal for the center by giving some background on Gorham and demonstrating the need for new fitness equipment. It was filmed by Patti Joyce, a 6th grade teacher.
Each fitness center is financed through public/private partnerships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Wheels Up, and Nike. This program does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. Fitness in Motion provides all the fitness equipment, which is manufactured in the United States.