Teaming up

Larry Nelson, associate professor of kinesiology, saw a way to create healthier lifestyles for local kids.

Watch the video: UTA helps Grand Prairie school get more active

Last year, he started an afternoon soccer program for the Young Men’s Leadership Academy, an all-male middle school in the Grand Prairie Independent School District. The goal was to provide an active after-school alternative to playing video games.

Participants received activity monitors to track the impact of the practices, and Dr. Nelson’s kinesiology students got real-world experience as coaches.

UTA nursing students also joined the project, teaching the kids about nutrition, and nursing faculty teamed with Baylor Health to teach parent classes.

“There’s a real shortage of health education today,” Dr. Nelson says. “We are fortunate to be in a position to apply our expertise in school settings that really want and appreciate the opportunity to improve the quality of life for our kids and community.”