Van Hoosen Student a Finalist in 'Make the Play for Healthy Habits' Video Contest

A Van Hoosen Middle School student is among five Michigan students that have been selected as finalists for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's "Make the Play for Healthy Habits" video contest.

Ashley Jacobson of Oakland Township, a sixth-grader at Van Hoosen, submitted a homemade video on ways to make Michigan healthier.

The winner will be decided by an online vote at A Healthier Michigan's Facebook page, and will be announced April 30. Voting runs through 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

The winning student's school will receive a special assembly focused on healthy eating and exercise with a guest appearance by Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. The student also will become a guest video blogger on aHealthierMichigan.org.

“We have a great deal of creativity and enthusiasm for health among our student finalists,” Andrew Hetzel, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s vice president for corporate communications, said.  “Blue Cross believes that having kids share ideas on how to make their schools and communities healthier is an effective way to encourage healthier lifestyle choices among their peers.”

Video submissions answered the question: "What would you do to make Michigan healthier?" Students focus on how to live a healthy life and how to communicate healthy lifestyle choices.

The 2013 finalists are:

• Ashley Jacobson, a sixth-grader from Van Hoosen Middle school (Rochester Hills)
• Marissa Orzame, a seventh-grader from Boulan Park Middle School (Troy)
• Mackenzie Pentland, an eighth-grader from Sault Area Middle School (Sault Ste. Marie)
• Fiona Wing, a seventh-grader from Three Lakes Academy (McMillan)
• Daphne Yaman, a fourth-grader from Kalamazoo Country Day School (Kalamazoo)