Helping Alachua County youth thrive, Florida college students teach wellness in the classroom
Children in Alachua County elementary and middle schools are learning to lead healthier, happier lives, with a little help from University of Florida student volunteers.
When the fall semester kicked off in August, students in the 2009-founded School Health Interdisciplinary Program, or SHIP, began attending local aftercare programs, leading lessons on physical activity, nutrition, oral health, germ safety, self-esteem, body image and seasonal topics. The goal of SHIP is to encourage young students – especially those in communities where access to educational resources is limited – to prioritize their physical, mental and emotional health.
“SHIP has given me a chance to make a tangible impact while collaborating with other passionate, interdisciplinary students,” said Marisol Alvarez Builla, a master’s student in the UF Department of Health Education & Behavior and SHIP’s current president. “Each volunteer session reaffirmed why I love this work. Seeing the kids light up when they learn something new is so fulfilling.”
Filling a need in the community
In areas where poverty and food insecurity are prevalent, wellness is not always at the forefront of students’ minds. As of 2023, 12.1% of families in Alachua County with children ages 17 and younger have been living below the poverty level, and 55.1% of elementary school students and 55.8% of middle school students are eligible for free or reduced lunches.
With this in mind, SHIP volunteers – 75 to 80% of whom come from the UF College of Health & Human Performance – undergo intensive training before being assigned to a school for the semester. Each visit includes about 30 minutes of education, followed by another 30 minutes of physical activity and play.
“A lot of our lesson plans have evolved over the years because our students will come in with a different point of view, saying they’re really interested in this topic,” said SHIP Executive Director Chelsea Chappell, Ph.D., CHES (BSHEB ‘05, MSHE ‘15), who leads the program with associate professor Holly T. Moses, Ph.D., MCHES.
While the SHIP program – originally launched in the UF College of Journalism & Communications – dates back 16 years, it has expanded to include 60 student volunteers who serve three local schools. Currently, volunteer fees provide the program’s only funding source.
“We have to supply our own pencils, construction paper – all these things we have to buy come from that little tiny bit of funding,” Chappell said. “It’s very difficult to make it all come together.”
Coming together for the greater good
Devoted SHIP volunteers always find a way to make an impact. Whether they are teaching students about the importance of adequate rest – in a state where 35.9% of children do not sleep enough, leading to irritability and difficulty focusing – or showing them how to limit screen time, they are committed to delivering a positive message.
“The UF students love it [after-school programs] too, because sometimes it’s hard in your schedule as a college student to find time to even work out or do any of those things that benefit your health and reduce stress,” Chappell said. “Not only are they getting to help these younger students become more active, but they also are getting to be more active in their day.”
Alvarez Builla attests that the UF College of Health & Human Performance has provided a strong foundation for her role as a SHIP volunteer, and she is regularly incorporating behavioral theories and skills she learned in the classroom into her daily life.
“These skills have made me a more effective communicator and have reinforced the importance of tailoring messages to meet the developmental and social needs of the population we are teaching,” Alvarez Builla said. “Students who join SHIP not only gain hands-on experience but also the chance to truly impact young lives through health education.”