SAN BENITO — Physical education coach Jeffrey Nunez wants the best for his students.
That means they need to be healthy and active.
As a coach at Angela G. Leal Elementary School, Nunez was inspired by his students to apply for a grant.
Writing the grant took several months of planning. With some help, Nunez pulled it off.
“I want to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all my students,” Nunez said. “I want to eradicate the notion that exercise or being active is not fun. Being active does not mean you have to play sports.”
Yesterday, he, students, administrators and teachers celebrated the grant that allowed them to install several pieces of outside and indoor fitness equipment.
The equipment was made attainable through the grant which was awarded to the school via The Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and Project Fit America.
The foundation awarded about $200,000 in grant funds, which was then individually awarded to several schools for the purchase of fitness equipment.
Angela G. Leal Elementary is one of nine schools to receive part of those funds.
Both entities are dedicated to preserving the health and well-being of the region.
The benefits of physical education go beyond the classroom.
“Physical education supports life-long learners who support being physically fit and how the benefits extend into the classroom and beyond,” Nunez said.
Now that the school is part of Project Fit America and as a condition of the grant, Nunez will monitor the health and fitness of 100 students and report back to a record keeping committee.
The goal and driving purpose is to create new and sustainable opportunities for kids to be active, fit and healthy as part of the everyday school experience.
This is accomplished through educational programs and equipment that will allow the school to successfully teach fitness education year after year.
The school has already added several physical alternatives including dancing, zumba and other activities.
“There are unlimited ways and ideas to stay active,” Nunez said. “You don’t have to be good at dancing to enjoy it.”
It is Nunez’s job to expose his students to new ideas, so they will have a broader knowledge and know how regarding ways to stay active throughout their lives.
With their new equipment already installed, the students can’t wait to go out and play, Nunez said.
Who is American Ninja Warrior Abel Gonzalez?
SAN BENITO — The students at Angela G. Leal Elementary School were in awe of Edinburg native Abel Gonzalez as he breezed through a back flip and handstands.
The feats of strength and fitness only made the students whoop and cheer even louder.
The Season 8 American Ninja Warrior athlete wowed the crowd of students.
Even the grown ups were impressed.
He was there to help the school celebrate the ribbon-cutting of their new fitness playground.
It was something that fit in with his daily life.
He spoke about his life and his journey to becoming a fitness warrior.
Abel has an interesting story.
Based on appearance, one might think Abel has always been the picture of health and determination. But that’s not the case. Abel has overcome his own personal obstacle course to reach the heights he has today.
Seeing his family disintegrate around him when he was only 10 years old, Abel voluntarily took on the role of primary caregiver to his younger brothers when he was just 20.
Three years later, he received a devastating diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, commonly considered a life-long debilitating disease.
Through dedicated work and study, Abel overcame an understandably negative outlook on life and at the same time shed the stigma of disability.
Today, Abel works steadfastly at maintaining his health and agility and encourages others to share in his passion and shout that #WeAreAllAbel.
Besides being an elite American Ninja Warrior athlete, Abel is a motivational speaker and owner of AXIOS Warrior Academy, a holistic Wellness Center in South Texas.
