Wellness was the theme on Wednesday, September 24, when Sullivan 180 hosted “Empowering a Healthier Generation (EHG) Celebration,” an evening of awards at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. 

The event recognized the health and wellness accomplishments of Sullivan County public schools and marked the conclusion of this round of EHG Competition. The evening also featured a special recognition of Dr. Robert Dufour, Sullivan BOCES Superintendent, on the occasion of his upcoming retirement.

The night’s big winners were Cooke Elementary, who won first place in the competition and took home a $75,000 grant, and second-place winner Rutherford Elementary School, who earned a $50,000 grant. The winners of the judges’ choice awards were Eldred High School, winning $5,000, and Livingston Manor High School, who won $10,000. 

The EHG Program, the youth-focused flagship program of Sullivan 180, also rewarded several participating schools with a Turtle Award, a $500 grant, for their demonstrated achievements in categories including nutrition, connection to nature, mental wellness, and physical activity.

The program kicked off with a passionate vocal rendition of “A Million Dreams,” by Sullivan West Sophomore Isabelle Passante, after which Sullivan 180 Chief Executive Officer Denise Frangipane welcomed the crowd and paid homage to the original caretakers of the land, the Lenni-Lenape. Frangipane said one clan of the Lenni-Lenape is the turtle: “The turtle symbolizes Mother Earth because turtles are one of the few animals that carry their homes on their backs, just as the earth carries all of us.” 

The themes of stewardship and responsibility were woven throughout the presentation, as Frangipane explained that we have a responsibility for creating opportunities for the next generation. She said, “The mission of Sullivan 180 is to build a healthy community one degree at a time.”

Sullivan 180 Board Member Dr. Anjana Poonthota explained that as a pediatrician she focuses on women’s health and children, and she praised the local school districts for developing opportunities for kids to connect with nature. 

Poonthata reflected on her practice saying, “I strive to provide medicine as much as I can, but prevention is what matters. When we give importance to prevention and treatment together, with collaboration, I think that makes a huge difference.” 

Director of Health and Wellness Meaghan Mullally-Gorr praised the efforts of district wellness coordinators in each school. “Our school communities have gone deeper, embedding wellness into the culture of their schools,” Mullally-Gorr said. “This work is not only changing policies and practices, but also creating real, lasting change for students, families, and by extension the entire Sullivan County community.”

Sandra Gerry, who founded Sullivan 180 25 years ago, said, “Welcome to this year’s amazing celebration of our collective progress towards a healthier Sullivan County, and what better place to start than with our schools and the children within. What has transpired these past few years is quite transformative, and we are so proud of the Empowering a Healthier Generation advisors, faculty, the school administrators who have made it all happen.” 

Gerry said no one is more deserving of praise than Sullivan County BOCES Superintendent and Sullivan 180 board member Dr. Robert Dufour, who “became a champion of the Empowering a Healthier Generation [Program].” For his guidance and leadership, Gerry and Sullivan 180 awarded Dufour with an honorary wooden bench for his home. 

It was a night to remember for all of the grant winners, volunteers, and administrators, and an opportunity for the Sullivan County community to come together to celebrate fostering healthy habits and positive learning environments for the next generation.