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Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

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Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

We are the Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, originally a non-profit founded by Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., MPH, in 1970.

We are dedicated to promoting lifelong health and wellness through research and education.

09/01/2026

Welcome back! A new school year is here, and our September Youth Newsletter is ready to kick things off.

Take a look at this month’s issue for fresh ideas, inspiration, and resources to start the year strong.

Read the September issue: https://conta.cc/4wvtGY2

08/06/2026

The Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centers and the NFL Foundation are proud to recognize Christine Piscopo, Buffalo Bills Champion, as the 2026 NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project National Champion Award recipient!

Chistine is a phenomenal educator and leader within Buffalo Public Schools (BPS), and a long-standing champion of youth health and fitness. Her unwavering advocacy for physical education, particularly as a passionate supporter and avid user of FitnessGram®, has made her an outstanding ambassador for the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project.

During the 2025–2026 school year 15,413 students were assessed for NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project across 31 schools, an incredible testament to her dedication and influence. Her work exemplifies the power of dedicated leadership in shaping a healthier, more active future for students.

The NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project is thrilled to celebrate Christine’s achievements at the 2026 Champion Summit. Thank you, Christine, for your tireless dedication to creating a culture of health among youth and for the lasting impact you have made throughout your remarkable 29-year teaching career. As you begin this well-earned retirement, we celebrate not only your contributions as a Project Champion, but also the countless students whose lives you have influenced through your passion, leadership, and commitment to education. We wish you all the best in this exciting new chapter and thank you for the extraordinary legacy you leave behind.

08/05/2026

The Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the NFL Foundation are proud to recognize Jacksonville Jaguars Market Project Champion, Edgar Pabon as the recipient of the 2025-2026 NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project MVP Award!

Edgar has consistently demonstrated what it means to lead with purpose, passion, and precision. A true champion of health and fitness, Edgar sets the gold standard for excellence in his district. He is always one step ahead, anticipating needs by fulfilling program requirements before asked.

Under his leadership, all Duval County Public Schools with the capacity to implement the required activities achieved 100% school survey compliance and 100% FitnessGram completion in the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project. Even more impressively, Edgar’s schools completed testing in every FitnessGram assessment. More than 8,000 students across 17 schools were assessed during the 2025–2026 school year as a direct result of his district’s commitment.

Thanks to Edgar’s dedication and strategic guidance, Duval County Public Schools not only met expectations but also exceeded the Project’s national Healthy Fitness Zone averages in Push Up, Flexibility and BMI. These outstanding results reflect Edgar’s unwavering leadership and high standards.

The NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project is honored to celebrate Edgar’s incredible achievements at the 2026 Champion Summit. Thank you, Edgar, for your relentless pursuit of health and excellence on behalf of your students and community. You exemplify what it means to be a true Project Champion, and we are confident your leadership will continue to inspire for years to come. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, and thank you for helping to raise a healthier generation!

08/04/2026

The Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the NFL Foundation are proud to recognize New England Patriots Market Project Champion, Daniel Fitzgerald as the recipient of the 2025-2026 NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project The Comeback Award!

Daniel embodies the spirit of continuous growth, dedication, and service. Throughout his time with the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project, he has distinguished himself as a responsive, engaged, and dependable leader who is always willing to learn, adapt, and support others. Daniel approaches every challenge with enthusiasm and determination, consistently seeking ways to strengthen implementation in his district. His positive attitude, quick learning, and commitment to collaboration have made him a valued partner and an influential leader within the Project.

Daniel joined the Project in the fall of 2023 following the departure of the previous champion in Fall River Public Schools. At that time, the district had not been conducting FitnessGram testing. In his first year, Daniel successfully reintroduced FitnessGram assessments to schools across the district, laying the foundation for future success. This year marked an extraordinary milestone as 99% of Fall River Project schools completed FitnessGram testing, and Daniel expanded the district's reach by enrolling six new schools into the Project. Thanks to Daniel’s dedication and strategic guidance, almost 5,000 students across 15 schools were assessed during the 2025-2026 school year.

Daniel's impact extends well beyond his own district. He played a key role in helping the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project welcome an additional New England Patriots market district set to join in Fall 2026.

The remarkable progress achieved under Daniel's leadership is a testament to his persistence. The NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project is honored to celebrate Daniel's journey and the incredible comeback he has led for his district. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your continued dedication to creating healthier futures for students across your community and beyond.

08/03/2026

The Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the NFL Foundation have selected the San Francisco 49ers Market Project Champion, Jill Camron, for the 2025-2026 NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project Rookie of the Year Award! Jill has proven to be an exceptional leader who worked tirelessly to implement this Project in Hollister School District.

During the 2025 – 2026 school year, Jill has demonstrated tremendous collaborative efforts in successfully bringing the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project to Hollister, California. In the Fall of 2025, Jill enrolled 10 elementary, middle, and high schools in the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project. Jill worked hard to ensure project compliance and tracking across all 10 schools, finishing the school year with 100% school survey compliance. Hollister did not previously use FitnessGram®, but with the district’s strong commitment to the project, almost 3,000 students were assessed and accompanying data entered into the software for at least one health-related component of fitness and exceeding the Project’s national Healthy Fitness Zone averages in Aerobic Capacity, Push Up, Plank or Curl Up, Vertical Jump and Flexibility. Throughout the school year, Jill remained very engaged with the project and worked proactively to meet the needs of her teachers and ensure successful program implementation.

The NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® Project is honored to recognize and celebrate your achievement at the 2026 Champion Summit. Thank you for your commitment to creating a culture of health among youth. Your determination exemplifies what it means to be a Project Champion. We know you will continue to amaze us for many years to come. Congratulations on this accomplishment and thank you for your dedication to raising a healthier generation!

07/29/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming our NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project Champions to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis, the official training facility of the Indianapolis Colts, for our annual Champion Summit.

Opportunities like this are invaluable for physical educators and district leaders. It is not often they have the chance to come together with colleagues from across the country exchange ideas, connect with leaders in school health, and collaborate with our NFL partners. The knowledge, best practices, and innovative strategies shared throughout the summit equip our Champions to return to their districts inspired and ready to strengthen their local programs, creating even greater opportunities for students to be active, healthy, and successful.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners for sharing your expertise and helping make this year's summit such a meaningful experience:

Emily Weinberg, GENYOUth
Jennifer Pratt, American Heart Association
Jessica Garcia, FitnessGram by GreenLight Fitness
Brian DeVore, OPEN
Jody Redman, InsideOut Initiative
And a very special thank you to Ellen Abbadessa for leading our hands on NFL FLAG-In-Schools training and empowering our Champions with practical tools to bring back to their schools.

To our Project Champions: thank you for your passion, dedication, and commitment to improving the health and well-being of students across the country. We can't wait to see the impact you'll make this school year!

06/18/2026

When it comes to preventing symptoms of depression, new research suggests that how you move may be as important as how much you move!

Recent research from KHCI at found that among nearly 39,000 adults, all physical activity characteristics (e.g., volume, duration, type, intensity, and diversity) were beneficial in reducing risk of depressive symptoms; however, the strongest associations were observed with diversity and intensity of activity. In other words, engaging in a variety of physical activities—including some vigorous-intensity exercise—may lower odds of experiencing symptoms of depression.

Just one more reason to keep moving—your body and mind may both thank you. 💪🧠

Read the full article here: https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2026/07000/physical_activity_characteristics_and_symptoms_of.15.aspx

06/11/2026

This week, the FitnessGram Advisory Board (FAB) gathered in Dallas, Texas, at the Cooper Aerobics Campus for its annual retreat, bringing together leading researchers, exercise scientists, and health experts dedicated to advancing youth fitness.

A highlight of this year's meeting was a special session with Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper himself, who shared reflections on his pioneering legacy and the enduring importance of helping individuals become “Cooperized” through lifelong physical activity and preventive health practices.

Since 1985, the FitnessGram Advisory Board has helped ensure FitnessGram remains grounded in the latest science and best practices. We are grateful for their expertise, leadership, and commitment to improving the health and wellness of youth nationwide.

FitnessGram by GreenLight Fitness

06/04/2026

Our team would like to wish NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project Champion for the Seattle Seahawks market, Krista Winn, a very happy retirement.

Krista has been a dedicated part of the NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Project since fall 2020, helping us advance our shared goal of supporting student health and fitness across Seattle-area school districts.

Beyond her impact with the project, Krista has devoted her career to education as a teacher at Hamilton Elementary School in the Port Angeles School District since 1990, 36 years at the same school and 41 years in education overall. Her lasting influence on generations of students is evident in the recognition she received from her school, including the naming of the gym in her honor: “Winn’s Gym,” a truly well-deserved tribute to her legacy.

We are grateful for her years of leadership, dedication, and commitment, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter.

06/03/2026

Week in rewind 📸

Researchers from the Kenneth H. Cooper Institute had the wonderful opportunity to attend the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City last week. It was an inspiring few days filled with cutting-edge science, meaningful conversations, and valuable opportunities to connect with colleagues and collaborators from across the country. Thankful for the chance to learn, share ideas, and be part of a community dedicated to advancing sports medicine, exercise science, epidemiology, and human performance.

Address

5920 Forest Park Road
Dallas, TX
75235

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18006357050

Website

https://www.ttuhsc.edu/centers-institutes/kenneth-h-cooper-institute-.aspx

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