The Delta Music Institute, a music industry studies program at Delta State University, recently partnered with the Healthy Campus/Community Initiative and the Delta State College of Education to offer students a “Get Your Groove Back” health challenge for the purpose of encouraging a healthier lifestyle for music industry students who will be working in careers that require long hours, late nights, and oftentimes, poor food choices.
Twelve DMI students signed up for the semester long challenge which was under the direction of Leslie Magee, Health and Special Projects Coordinator for the HCCI. Students were given a physical test at the beginning of the challenge to determine a baseline of fitness from which to measure progress over fifteen weeks. Students, competing for a $1000 award and music download cards, earned points by attending fitness classes, keeping food diaries, and doing weekly weigh-ins.
“The music and entertainment industry does not lend itself to regular hours for meals, rest, or exercise, so we hope that a challenge like this will begin to make students aware that they will have to take control and make good choices as it relates to their health in order to build and sustain a long and productive career,” says DMI Director Tricia Walker.
Three young ladies completed the entire fifteen-week challenge towards a healthier lifestyle with Harrison Downs of Huntsville, Alabama winning the grand prize, and Laeitta Wade of Greenville and Marlee Poellnitz of Brandon close behind as runners-up.
The Delta Music Institute is an independent center of study under the College of Arts & Sciences at Delta State University, offering a B.S. in Music Industry Studies degree. The focus of the DMI is to provide students with a broad and thorough education in the technological, creative, and business areas of the music and entertainment industry. For information, contact (662) 846-4579 or visit http://dmi.deltastate.edu.
