Mammoth Mountain, CA – Rusty Gregory, CEO of Mammoth Mountain, presented Mammoth Middle School with a special check today, December 11, 2008, for $20,000 on behalf of Mammoth Mountain for having the highest participation rate in the California Governor’s Challenge for all school in Inyo and Mono Counties. This challenge was offered up last spring to all schools in Inyo and Mono Counties with a $20,000 prize to be awarded to the recreation and physical fitness departments at the school with the highest participation rate.

The Governor’s Challenge, a part of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, seeks to establish healthy physical fitness habits in youth by encouraging children to exercise 30-60 minutes a day at least three days a week. The Governor’s Challenge Competition is an annual contest among all k-12 schools that encourages everyone, including students, teachers and parents, to be physically active. In addition, physical activity and fitness have been shown to be highly correlated to academic success.

“With the spirit that you’ve got in the classroom and the spirit that you’ve got outside playing, whether it’s competitive sports or just being outside and being active, I can tell you, you can accomplish anything in this world that you set your mind to,” said Gregory at the award ceremony at Mammoth Middle School. Gregory continued, “Mammoth is pleased to promote healthy bodies, healthy minds and the sports programs of Mammoth Middle School.”

To help encourage exercise in students, Mammoth Mountain has established a free lift ticket program for students and has offered “free ski days” for local schools including rentals, lessons and lift tickets for students and teachers. Students at Mammoth Middle School attained a 93% participation rate in the Governor’s Challenge.