ANAHEIM, CA :: On April 8, thirty of HIU’s Kinesiology students assisted in the “Ducks Captain’s Challenge” hosted by the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. 1,000 local 5th graders participated in the Fit Finals as a part of the Challenge.The Ducks and community partners were on hand to record students' scores and encourage them in a highly exciting and energetic atmosphere. HIU students, assessed and encouraged students in the sit and reach, curl up, and trunk lift stations.

This program incorporates the importance of both leadership (through lessons on perseverance, integrity, courage, and accountability) and physical fitness (by testing aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, trunk extensor strength, upper body strength, and flexibility.  This directly prepares students for the State of California Grade Five Physical Fitness assessment.

Kinesiology Department Chair Melissa Nuño, stated, “The Ducks have been doing some amazing community outreach for years, and HIU has established a great relationship with the organization.  This was the first time we had the chance to take our Kinesiology students down there, and it was perfect being that it was an assessment of physical fitness!  We had a great turnout of student involvement, and it was awesome to see our students interact with children, put their fitness skills to good use, and encourage students on the importance of leading an active lifestyle.  We look forward to being a part of this event for many years to come.”