Press Room

New Scholarship Prepares More Professionals to Educate Youth on Healthy Behaviors, Combat Childhood Obesity

Posted: Sep 18, 2014 in

American Council on Exercise launches Ash Hayes Scholarship
to Help Dedicated Individuals Become ACE Certified Personal Trainers

SAN DIEGO, Calif., September 18, 2014 – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American society has become characterized by environments that promote increased consumption of less healthy food and physical inactivity, resulting in an obesity rate among youth that has tripled in the past 30 years. In recognition of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the need for greater awareness and education on how to address the issue, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has launched the Ash Hayes Scholarship to provide professionals with the tools to more effectively address the disturbing trend. 

The Ash Hayes Scholarship furthers the legacy of Dr. Asahel “Ash” E. Hayes by providing individuals, either currently working or aspiring to work with youth in a physical activity or health setting all the materials they need to prepare for the ACE Certified Personal Trainer exam at no cost*. Dr. Hayes, former executive director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (currently the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition), has served as a prominent member of the fitness industry for 60 years. In addition to a career devoted to the advancement of youth physical activity nationwide, Dr. Hayes is a renowned author and presenter, holds leadership positions for eight international and national organizations, and is an ACE board member.

“Statistics support that the future health of our nation is directly tied to the health of our children,” said ACE President and CEO Scott Goudeseune. “If we don’t provide opportunities for youth to engage in regular physical activity, chances are high they will perform poorer in school, have lower self-esteem, and fail to adopt healthy habits they carry into adulthood. The Ash Hayes Scholarship, simply put, is an investment in the people who will be educating and guiding our youth in establishing the skills and practices most likely to be effective in promoting lifelong physical activity and healthy eating, and an investment in our future is a cause we can all rally behind”.

For 25 accepted applicants each year, the Ash Hayes Scholarship will provide a set of ACE Personal Trainer Certification study materials and aids, access to a state-of-the-art eBook, and ACE Academy Elite, an interactive video-led study experience that appeals to diverse learning styles. Applicants must demonstrate they are currently working, or planning to work, with youth in a professional setting at schools, medical facilities, recreation departments, fitness facilities, or community centers.

“In addition to providing opportunities for individuals to build or continue to build their careers with a quality, accredited certification, this program further demonstrates the role well-qualified health and fitness professionals can play in a preventive system of care,” Goudeseune said. “As our organization continues to work toward eradicating the obesity epidemic, we envision opportunities like this to continue to develop.”

For more on sponsoring or applying for the Ash Hayes Scholarship, visit https://www.acefitness.org/ash-hayes/

*Upon approval, qualified candidates will be responsible for standard shipping costs.

About ACE
The nonprofit American Council on Exercise (ACE) educates, certifies, and speaks for a growing network of 53,000 fitness professionals, health coachesand other wellness experts, a community ACE is leading more directly into the fight against physical inactivity and obesity. ACE advocates for recognition of its profession as a provider of primary prevention and obesity-management services and it makes available to the public science-based information and resources on safe and effective physical activity and general healthy living. Headquartered in San Diego, ACE is the largest provider of health and fitness certifications accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the gold standard in the United States for assessing professional competence, ensuring people have access to fitness, health and wellness professionals that are properly trained, qualified and capable. For more information, call (888) 825-3636 or visit ACEfitness.org. AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, ACE and ACE logos are Registered Trademarks of the American Council on Exercise.

 

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