By Megan Escutia
Some Loyolans literally know how to put their best foot forward.
Loyola University Chicago’s Wellness Center offered plenty of opportunities this summer for Loyolans to achieve a healthier lifestyle. One wellness initiative in particular, titled the University Walking Challenge, promised to get faculty and staff moving.
The challenge, which was sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield, ran from April 25 – July 4 and was open to faculty and staff only.
Each participant received a pedometer to keep track of their steps, and manually recorded their steps and total miles each week on BlueCross BlueShield’s WalkingWorks website. Human Resources reported Loyola’s weekly standing on the Inside Loyola news site.
The top three individuals at Loyola who logged the most miles:
- Abe Cortes with 1,615 miles
- Eric Deubel with 1,364 miles
- Daniel Hyppolite with 1,071 miles
A total of 11 Loyola teams competed in the challenge. Based on total miles per department, Central Administration (includes Human Resources and any faculty and staff that do not have a specific school affiliation) had the most with 25,100.55 miles, Stritch School of Medicine was second with 5,432.05 miles, and College of Arts and Sciences was third with 4,619.46 miles.
Based on average miles per participant, the top three departments were the Institute of Pastoral Studies (275.11), the School of Communication (210.11), and the School of Social Work (107.62).
Loyola competed against DePaul and Northwestern University as part of the challenge.
“There was no specific mileage goal in mind for Loyola; the goal of the event was to get Loyolans moving,” said Leila Zaritzky, the Wellness Coordinator.
Six hundred fifty-three Loyolans participated in the challenge (Northwestern had 507 participants and DePaul had 541).
“We are all really competitive and loved the fact that we were doing good. Every time we saw DePaul sneak up on the list we made sure with each other that we were putting in our miles,” said Sabine Schramm, the administrative assistant of the School of Communication. “After a while it got to be very competitive and I would walk to Lincoln Park to add some more miles.”
At the end of the 10-week walking competition, Loyola walked 50, 631.73 miles, Northwestern walked 40,903.55 miles, and DePaul walked 83,659.02 miles, winning the University Walking Challenge.
For the last three weeks of the challenge, 10 participants were rewarded with a Red Mango gift card for logging the most individual miles each week.
Even though the challenge is over, participants from the top three departments are still adding steps to their average miles.
“I’m still putting in my miles even though it’s over and I did just short of 400 miles myself, so now I’m heading for 500,” said Schramm. “It’s the one thing I’m really good at. I’m a walker.”
“I walked faster and longer each day and hope to be able to keep this up, it’s not just a challenge to be on top, but a life journey challenge, said Susann Ozuk, the office assistant of the Institute of Pastoral Studies. “I’m happy Loyola provides opportunities like this to keep us healthy and strong.”
