Missouri Southern, like many other colleges and universities in the state, is participating in the 2014 Campus Challenge issued by Gov. Jay Nixon under the umbrella of the 100 Missouri Miles program. The students, faculty, staff and administration at Southern and the other schools in our division have been challenged to log an accumulative 35,000 miles from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30.

The 100 Missouri Miles program began in 2013 when Nixon challenged Missourians to walk, run, bike, paddle or whatever physical activity they could to get healthy and active, according to www.100missourimiles.com. The program was a success, with over 1.1 million miles logged by Missourians that year.

The program launched again in March of 2014, and the Recreational Services Department at Southern used it as the Wellness Incentive Program, encouraging students to register and log their miles for a chance to win prizes.

Heather Arnold, director of aquatics and wellness, said the incentive program continues even with the start of the new Campus Challenge.

The college divisions are determined according to the number of students, faculty and staff at each school. Winners of each division are awarded a trophy as well as advertising on the governor’s web page. Southern falls into tier three, with a goal of 35,000 miles, and is currently in first place out of all divisions with over 3,000 miles.

“We’re actually even ahead of, in terms of percentage, other bigger schools, like MU and MSU,” said Arnold.

Not only can students log their miles, but they can also convert workouts that aren’t measured in miles, such as yoga or swimming, into miles in a converter on the website.

Kristina Peterson, senior health promotion major and Beimdiek Recreation Center staff member, started logging her miles to help Southern win the Campus Challenge.

“I’ve probably logged six or seven miles since it started Sept. 1,” she said.

Peterson also pointed out two laptops on the front desk of the recreation center where those entering or leaving the gym can register, convert workouts and log miles.

“If you log 50 miles for September, you get a free T-shirt,” said Peterson, “and you are entered to win prizes just for participating.”

According to Arnold, almost every student probably walks a mile or two every day, either on campus, shopping or working.

“If everyone would put in a mile a day that they’ve done, we could easily reach our goal,” she said, “and probably surpass it, even.”

Students can register to participate in the 100 Missouri Miles and Campus Challenge at www.100missourimiles.co. To make their miles count towards the Campus Challenge, students must add Missouri Southern to their school under the user profile. If students want to win prizes, they must also apply to join the MSSU Wellness Incentive Program under the “Groups” and “College” tabs.

To follow the progress of fellow Southern students, “Like” the MSSU Beimdiek Recreation Center Facebook page and use hashtags #100MOMILES, #100MOSOMILES #100MILEHOTTIE.